Ear Infections
Ear infections, also known as otitis media (OM), appear in many kids during their childhood. In fact, 5 out of 6 children develop ear infections before the age of 3, making it one of the most common causes for children’s hospital visits.
What Is An Ear Infection? Signs and Causes
An ear has 3 parts, the outer, middle, and inner ear. Ear infections occur within the middle ear where the ear canal, cochlea, eardrum, and 3 small bones are located. The eustachian tube - connecting the throat to the middle ear - also contributes to ear infections. Ear infections occur when bacteria or viruses from the nose and throat get trapped in the eardrum.
Some signs to look for if you suspect your child might have an ear infection
- Crying or fussiness
- Tugging at the ear
- Difficulty sleeping
- Fever
- Thick, yellow fluid coming from the ear
- Problem with balancing
- Difficulty hearing
At Home Solutions
While ear infections are the most common reason for doctor visits, there are a few at home strategies to help manage the symptoms of an ear infection:
- Warm or Cold Compresses: Soaking a washcloth in water - either warm or cold depending on which works best for your child - and applying it with pressure to the ear.
- Elevated Sleeping Position: Lying down leads to an increased fluid buildup in ears, inducing pressure and pain in your child’s middle ear. Using extra pillows to sleep upright at a slight recline can reduce this buildup.
- Hydration: When the ear infection results in respiratory illnesses such as a cold, drinking plenty of fluids helps reduce the swelling and pain in the ear. Using a humidifier can also promote hydration.
Ways to Lower Your Child’s Risk
Since most children develop an ear infection in their lifetime, here are some ways to reduce the risk of developing an ear infection:
- Minimizing exposure to cigarette smoke: a study found that there were approximately 130,000 and 293,000 annual ear infection cases in the UK and USA respectively; attributed to secondhand tobacco smoking
- Ensuring infants don’t drink from a bottle while lying down: when lying down, children have an increased risk of liquid milk entering the eustachian tube and building up in the ear
- Frequent hand washing: handwashing prevents the spread of germs, which are a major contributor to ear infections
- Receiving proper immunizations: a study found that children who receive the influenza vaccine showed a reduction in ear infection occurrences. For example, children receiving the conjugate pneumococcal vaccine showed a protection against ear infections 97% of the time
- Reducing pacifier use after 12 months: pacifiers can alter the pressure in the eustachian tube and the continual sucking motion can bring up bacteria
Lifestyle based Prevention Methods
- Diet: Children with food sensitivities have an increased risk for developing ear infections, especially during flu season. Swapping the dietary trigger with an easier digestive option may help reduce your child’s gut discomfort and potential triggering of ear infections
- Physical Exercise: Ear infections are commonly caused by bacterial infections and research suggests that engaging in regular exercise can strengthen your child’s immune system, which reduces the onset of ear infections
- Stress Management: Chronic stress can lead to a weakened immune system, making your children more susceptible to ear infections. Trying stress management techniques and/or meditation can lower your child’s stress levels and reduce this risk.
Key Takeaways
Ear infections are one of the most common infections to occur in children. Although they do go away on their own, using specific strategies can actively reduce your child’s risk and at home remedies can relieve your child’s discomfort during the infection. These tactics in combination can make the common ear infection a much less painful process. Lifestyle medicine strategies such as diet, nutrition, and sleep can prevent your child’s risk of ear infections, as well as reducing the discomfort that comes along with the infection.
Author: Julia Tuccitto