Ear Infections in Infants

Ear infections are also known as acute otitis media. Here, otitis stands for the ears and media is used to refer to the middle, which means that otitis media is an infection which affects the middle part of the ear. There is another type of infection known as the external otitis which, as the name suggests, is an infection of the external or outer part of the ear.

Ear infections in babies are the direct results of the infections of the respiratory system which cause accumulation of fluid in the middle ear. The position of the middle ear is behind the eardrum. The occurrence of swelling in the regions of the middle ear behind the eardrum is also widely observed in patients. Fever and cold are the respiratory problems leading to ear infections in infants. Germs breed in the middle ear, due to the accumulation of fluids. Babies who are suffering from sinus infections, cold and allergy, are more prone to ear infections which are quite painful due to the pressing of the fluids present against the eardrum. Babies generally cry constantly, if they suffer from ear infections. Contact your doctor immediately who will prescribe an antibiotic medicine for your child for some relief. Ear infections in infants are sometimes dangerous because they can result into the loss of the hearing capacity of the child which may further delay the process of speaking and learning.

Causes of Ear Infections in Children
Infants are more affected by ear problems because their immune system is not completely developed and as a result of this, they lack sufficient resistance power to combat these infections. Infants who are knowingly or unknowingly in contact with tobacco smoke and other carcinogenic and narcotic products stand at a higher risk of developing ear infections than the other children who are away from them. Ear infections can also be hereditary. If the parents or siblings of a child had ear infections in their childhood, the possibility of the child being affected by the infection rises. Allergic rhinitis, down syndrome and immunity related disorders also increase the risk of ear infections in infants. Parents should take extra care of their children throughout the year and especially during winters and falls, as these seasons generate the maximum cases of ear infections in babies.

Symptoms of Ear Infections in Babies
Symptoms of ear infections in infants can sometimes be deceptive. Irritation in the ears, decrease in stamina, lack of enthusiasm, clumsiness, fever which is more than hundred degrees Fahrenheit, are some common ear infection symptoms in babies. Symptoms like temporary hearing loss and pain in ears are also observed in some cases.

Diagnosing Ear Infections
As suggested above, parents should seek medical treatment for their children in case of ear infections to avoid further complications. The doctor uses the instrument known as otoscope to check the inner details of the ears of the child. The child is diagnosed with ear infections, when the doctor sees the tympanic membrane and other minute details of the ear.

Treatment for Ear Infections
Antibiotics are widely used to treat children with ear infections. However, excessive use of antibiotics can have serious side effects. The course for the antibiotic treatment is for ten days, if the age of the child is less than two years. If the child is older than two years, the antibiotics are given for a period of seven days. Amoxicillin is the most popular choice for doctors to treat ear infections. Homeopathic, chiropractic, and acupuncture treatments have been included in the category of complementary and alternative medical treatments. One could opt for several home remedies for ear infections, that will help reduce the risk of side effects.

Antihistamine and decongestant medicines have not always shown good results in treating ear infections in infants. It is essential to have the right information about the medications when we deal with the sensitive topic of kids health.