Ear infections are common in children between the ages of six months to five years old and can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort. Most ear infections or otitis media are not serious and they usually occur with a cold or flu.
Ear infections are usually caused by viruses or bacteria in the ear canal. The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear with the back of the throat. Viruses and bacteria can travel from the back of the throat or nasal cavity into the Eustachian tube, causing middle ear infections.
A middle ear infection or acute otitis media usually occurs a few days to two weeks after the child has a respiratory tract infection. There may be pus with the ear and around the ear drum and the child may have a fever as well.
Outer ear infections or otitis externa are usually caused by getting water in the ear, which leads to infection and inflammation. Symptoms include pain that is worsened when the outer ear is touched or moved. There may be discharge from the ear, but this type of earache is not caused by the flu or a cold and the child will not have a fever.
Younger children may not be able to express that they have an earache. Symptoms include:
- an unexplained fever,
- trouble sleeping,
- tugging or pulling at their ears,
- trouble hearing quiet sounds
Children at risk of ear infections include:
- Babies born prematurely
- Younger children as they have shorter Eustachian tubes
- Children who attend daycare or nursery as they tend to catch more colds
- Children with allergies or asthma
- Children with weak immune systems
- Children exposed to cigarette smoke as smoke can irritate the Eustachian tube, making ear infections more likely
- Children who were not breastfed, as breast milk contains antibodies that help fight infections
- Children who are bottle fed and who swallow milk while lying down as milk can enter the Eustachian tube, which increases the risk of an ear infection
- Children who use pacifiers or soothers or suck on their thumbs
- Children with cleft palates
- Boys tend to have more ear infections than girls
Doctors diagnose ear infections by looking at the ear drum (tympanic membrane) with an otoscope and may prescribe antibiotics for chronic infections or children with other serious medical problems. Most children recover from ear infections within 48 to 72 hours without medication. Children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help to reduce ear pain. However, infants and children under the age of five years should not be given medications without consulting a doctor.
Consult a doctor immediately if your child has an earache for longer than 12 hours, frequent ear infections, also has other health problems, if he has trouble hearing, has swelling behind the ear, or there is fluid draining from the ears.
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