Ear Infections and Your Child
Next to the common cold, an ear infection
is the most common childhood illness. In fact, most
children have at least one ear infection by the time
they are 3 years old. Most of the time, ear infections
clear up without causing any lasting problems.
In order to understand how ear infections
occur, it’s helpful to know how our ears work.
The ear has three parts — the outer ear, middle
ear and inner ear. A small tube (eustachian tube)
connects the middle ear to the back of the nose. When
a child has a cold, nose or throat infection, or allergy,
the eustachian tube can become blocked, causing a
buildup of fluid in the middle ear. If bacteria or
a virus infects this fluid, it can cause swelling
and pain in the ear. This type of ear infection is
called acute otitis media.
Often after the symptoms of acute otitis
media clear up, fluid remains in the ear. Acute otitis
media then develops into another kind of ear problem
called otitis media with effusion (middle ear fluid).
This condition is harder to detect than acute otitis
media because except for the fluid and usually some
mild hearing loss, there are often no other noticeable
symptoms. This fluid may last several months and,
in most cases, disappears on its own. Hearing then
returns to normal.
Your child may have many symptoms during
an ear infection. Talk with your pediatrician about
the best way to treat your child’s symptoms.
Pain
The most common symptom of an ear infection
is pain. Older children can tell you that their ears
hurt. Younger children may only seem irritable and
cry. You may notice this more during feedings because
sucking and swallowing may cause painful pressure
changes in the middle ear.
Loss of appetite
Your child may have less of an appetite
because of the ear pain.
Trouble sleeping
Your child may have trouble sleeping
because of the ear pain.
Fever
Your child may have a temperature ranging
from 100°F (normal) to 104°F.
Ear drainage
You might notice yellow or white fluid,
possibly blood-tinged, draining from your child’s
ear. The fluid may have a foul odor and will look
different from normal earwax (which is orange-yellow
or reddish-brown). Pain and pressure often decrease
after this drainage begins, but this doesn’t
always mean that the infection is going away. If this
happens it’s not an emergency, but your child
will need to see your pediatrician.
Trouble hearing
During and after an ear infection,
your child may have trouble hearing for several weeks.
This occurs because the fluid behind the eardrum gets
in the way of sound transmission. This is usually
temporary and clears up after the fluid from the middle
ear drains away.
© Copyright 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics
For more information contact
your local health department or physician.
* This information is not a substitute
for professional medical care. Diagnosis and treatment
should be done only by your health care provider.
For more information contact your local health department
or physician.
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