When children have a bad cold or a stuffy nose, they also have ear pain. This is due to congestion, and some nasal or ear drops prescribed by your paediatrician can give good relief. What about ear infections? Recurrent or severe ear infections? Such infections will need something more robust, like antibiotics.
Ear infections affect children when bacteria or viruses attack the area behind the eardrum. This can lead to inflammation and fluid build-up in the middle part of the ear—right behind the eardrum. Ear infections can be very painful for some children, causing them to be irritable and cry often.
Many times, such ear infections will resolve themselves over time. However, in case of severe infections or pain, your child might need some strong medications or even antibiotics.
Otitis Media or acute otitis media is an infection of the middle ear. The middle part of the ear is between the eardrum and the inner ear, which is filled with air. This is where the delicate bones of the ear are. These bones transmit the sound vibrations from your eardrums to your inner ear, thus helping you hear the sounds.
The eustachian tube is the canal that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. These canals prevent fluid build-up in the middle ears and regulate air pressure. When these tubes don’t function properly, it becomes difficult for the fluid to drain away from the ears. As the fluid accumulates, it can muffle sounds, make it difficult to hear, and also lead to ear infections.
Ear infections that affect a child just once or very few times are known as Acute Otitis Media. If the infection keeps coming back more than three times within a span of six months, it is known as recurrent acute Otitis Media. This can indicate that the child’s eustachian tube is not working as it should.
In some cases, the middle ear can have fluid build-up but the child may not experience any pain or discomfort. There may not be an infection either. This condition is known as Otitis Media with Effusion. This is quite common when children start swimming or start immersing their heads in water.
Yes, ear infections are pretty common in babies and young children.
The eustachian tube is supposed to be free of blockage to let air pass from the throat, nose, and into the ear. When this tube is blocked, the middle ear does not have enough ventilation and can start becoming damp. This warm and damp area is a breeding ground for germs, thus leading to ear infections.
The eustachian tube is very soft in babies and little kids. It may not stay open at all times, leading to ear infections. Babies and children also tend to put their fingers into their ears to scratch or just fiddle. This can transport germs into the ears, paving the way for an infection.
Some common symptoms a child may experience during an ear infection are:
● Ear pain
● Hearing trouble
● Unable to sleep
● Loss of appetite
● Fever
Babies can’t communicate clearly. You may notice these additional symptoms in them:
● Tugging or pulling the ear
● Touching the ear and crying
● Vomiting
● Diarrhoea
So, what causes these ear infections?
● Virus—One of the most common causes of an ear infection in children is upper respiratory infections like the flu or a severe cold. RSV and Rhinovirus are most common viruses that cause otitis media.
These viruses can cause inflammation and congestion of the eustachian tube and obstruct mid-ear ventilation.
● Bacteria—Bacteria mostly follow a viral infection. They can infect ears with existing inflammation, leading to more symptoms like a fever. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis are the common bacteria causing ear infection.
● Allergies - Ear infections can also be caused by pollen, animals, dust or even food allergies.
● Pollution – Sometimes smoke, fumes and other environmental toxins can be very strong and trigger an infection, especially if the exposure is long-term or regular.
The doctor will physically examine the ear using an otoscope. If they can see the fluid build-up or inflammation, it indicates an ear infection.
Most ear infections clear up on their own. If the infection was caused by a blockage caused by flu or cold, treating it can help clear it up. Sometimes, the fluid may not drain away on its own and can temporarily affect the child’s hearing.
In rare cases, if the ear infection is recurrent or does not clear away on its own, you may need to give medications. Antibiotics can help clear away such persistent infections effectively. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics for ear infections, ensure you complete the entire course. Do not discontinue the medicines just because the infection seems better or has cleared away.
Ear infections in children are predominantly caused by flu or a cold. Giving your child the conjugate pneumococcal vaccine and other vaccines on time as per their schedule can help prevent flu and other infections that can lead to an ear infection.
Ear infections are quite common in babies and children. Ear infections are nothing to worry about unless they are recurrent in nature and don’t go away quickly. Consulting your doctor is always a better option than self-medication.
Ear infections are inflammation or infection of the middle part of the ear—the part behind the ear drum. They can be caused by flu, cold, virus, bacteria, allergies, or even pollution.
Keep their ears clean and dry at all times. Ensure there is no congestion that can block the ear canal. Teach them not to put anything, including their fingers into their ears. Depositing viruses or bacteria inside the ear through touch can also cause infections.
Antibiotics should be taken only when prescribed by qualified doctors. The child will not suffer any side effects when taken as per instructions. Continuous usage of antibiotics can have some side effects depending on the dosage and duration of usage.
