When your kid is screaming because of the discomfort of an ear infection, it’s only natural to want to know all you can about them. That is why we’ve written all about what they are, why they happen, and how to deal with them, below.
What are ear infections?
Often, ear infections occur when a child has moisture trapped behind the eardrum. This provides a breeding ground for bacteria. Sometimes ear problems are the result of viral infections. Although they can also frequently follow a bout of illness, such as a cold.
Unfortunately, ear infections are very common in younger people. Especially in the summer months, because of all the swimming they do. The middle ear tends to be most affected when it comes to ear infections. Medical professionals refer to Middle ear infections as Otitis Media.
Signs your child has an ear infection
If you are worried about whether your child has an ear infection, look out for the following signs:
- Are they rubbing or pulling at their ears?
- Do they have a fever above 38 degrees centigrade?
- Are they in distress / crying more than usual?
- Is any fluid draining from their ears?
- Are they struggling to sleep because of the pain when lying down?
Hearing loss and ear infections
One of the most scary things about ear infections is that they can cause hearing loss. Of course, can hearing loss be reversed in this case, is the the burning question that most parents ask here. Well the answer is that it depends on the type of loss you are dealing with.
This is because sometimes with an infection hearing is affected because fluid in the ears makes it harder for sound waves to penetrate. This can lead to temporary hearing loss that will usually go back to normal once the infection has been cleared.
However, ear infections can also cause a more permanent type of hearing loss, especially if they go untreated or are chronic. In this case the hearing loss is less likely to be reversible. It will also impact things such as speech delays in children, and an audiology check is recommended so they can get the help they need.
Treating ear infections
There are several different options available for ear infections in kids. The most common is antibiotic treatment. Although this will only be effective for bacterial infections. Also the patient must always complete the full course of antibiotics for them to be effective.
Another option is to use pain relief like paracetamol or ibuprofen. These medicines can help alleviate some of the discomfort associated with ear infection pain. Sometimes grommets which are small tubes can be inserted into the ears to help fluid drain. However, these are only used in chronic cases.
How to prevent ear infections When it comes to ear infections prevention is always better than cure. That is why you should make sure your child’s vaccinations are kept up to date. It’s also important that children are not exposed to second hand smoke. This is because the smoke can irradiate the eustachian tube and make infections more likely.
