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Ear infections are one of the most common complaints seen in a pediatrician’s office. While they can occur anytime throughout the year, they tend to increase in frequency during the winter and are most often preceded by viral colds. While ear infections are common and are usually easily treatable, they can cause discomfort for your child and can be distressing for us as parents.
Ear infections occur when fluid gathers in the middle ear space behind the eardrum and then becomes infected with bacteria that normally hangs out in that area. As the fluid and inflammation expands, it can push on the eardrum and cause discomfort to the child. Kids tend to get more ear infections than adults because their Eustachian tubes (canals that connect the ear space to the nasal cavity) are narrower, shorter, and more horizontal than those of adults. That makes it easier for fluid to get trapped behind the ear drum and become infected.
As a parent myself, I know that sometimes it can be hard to tell when your child has an ear infection. Sometimes it seems like kids have colds all winter long — that would add up to a lot of doctor’s visits if you had them evaluated each time they’re sniffling and coughing. While an older child may be able to describe their ear pain, it’s much harder to tell in younger children. Here are some signs to watch for:
Okay, so you think your child has an ear infection. Should you get them evaluated?
If your child is more than 6 months old and symptoms are very mild, you can probably try home treatments first. If symptoms don’t improve quickly, have your child checked out.
Your pediatrician will ask questions about description and duration of symptoms. Then we will check to make sure your child is breathing comfortably and seems well hydrated, and of course we will examine the ears.
Occasionally, an antibiotic may not clear up the infection completely. This can happen if the bacteria is resistant to certain antibiotics. In this case, we will switch up the antibiotics and treat with one that should cover for the resistance. If your child is having a significant number of ear infections in a short period of time, we will often refer your child to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist to be evaluated for ear tubes.
Here are some steps that you can take to help prevent colds and ear infections:
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