Ear Infections

That piercing scream in the middle of the night! Usually a work night, no less. You check on your child to find that they may also have a fever and are pulling at their ears. What's going on? The experienced parent realizes that it is probably an ear infection. Ear infections may or may not be accompanied by an ear ache - the cause of your child's screaming. Ear infections are very common in young children. Usually children between the ages of 6 months to two years of age are the ones being affected.

What causes the ear infection? Ear infections (known medically as acute otitis media) are usually the result of a cold or upper respiratory infection. Children may suffer with a cold for several days before the onset of the infection. As children remain congested there is swelling in the nose and or throat which blocks the Eustachian tube - this is the canal which leads to the ear. As the tube becomes blocked, bacteria settle in, hence, an infection. There are times when the pressure from the blockage may become severe enough to tear the eardrum and at this time you may notice drainage from the ear. Medical information suggests that this is not dangerous and that the eardrum heals by itself in a week or two.

To combat the ear infection it is necessary to give the child an antibiotic. This antibiotic will not help the cold, however, as colds are due to a viral infection. Antibiotics do not rid the body of viral infections. It is important to note also that all of the antibiotic must be given. It is common for the ear infection to improve but not quite go away. Some children may need a second dose of the antibiotic (this means another 10 day stint), as the ear infection is difficult to get rid of. However, the ear infection is not contagious and generally not dangerous. It is suggested that instead of rushing off to the emergency room in the middle of the night that you give your child acetaminophen (i.e., Tylenol) or even ibuprofen to relieve the pain and fever. (Do not give a child aspirin - this can cause Reye's Syndrome.) You may want to check with your doctor in the morning.

Medical research does not suggest that decongestants help prevent or cure the ear infection. My own personal experience, however, was that when I gave my daughter a decongestant in the early stages of a cold she did not develop ear infections.

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