01/08/2024
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When the middle ear gets infected, it is usually because of bacteria that occurs when fluid builds up behind a child’s eardrum. Though this is common among adults, it is seen more often in children than adults. Usually, children have ear infection at least once before their third birthdays.
Symptoms of Ear Infection for Kids
The ear is structured into three parts: the outer ear canal, the middle ear where infections take place and the inner ear, the site for the nerves and balance centre are located. Between the middle and outer ears is a thin membrane-like eardrum. The middle ear contains the little bones that carry out vibrations in the ear drum to the brain. It is also linked to the back of the nose through the Eustachian tube.
These are the leading symptoms of ear infection among kids:
Immature Eustachian tube
Children have a short and angled tube, enabling bacteria to migrate to the middle ear through the nose and throat. As children grow, the Eustachian tube grows vertical, so germs need to travel upwards to reach the middle ear. This is why older children do not get ear infections.
Colds
When a child has a cold, his nasal passages are swollen and mucus settles at the rear of the nose. The nose then becomes most fertile ground for bacteria to proliferate. These are found in the throat and nose and begin overgrowing. The middle ear also secretes mucus.
Bacterial multiplication
Germs move up through the Eustachian tube and enter the middle ear where they multiply inside the mucus that’s stuck there. Due to the pus formation here, the middle ear is soon filled with pus, mucus and bacteria.
Ear pain
Pus causes the eardrum to swell up and turn red.
Reduced hearing
Pus collects in the middle ear and presses down on the eardrum, thereby preventing it from normal vibrations and dampening the ex*****on of these vibrations on the small bones. As the fluid blocks the Eustachian tube, it wets the sound your child hears.
Treatment
There are two types of treatments doctors offer kids with ear infection. These include:
Painkillers for pain relief
Your child can only feel comfortable with good pain relief measures. You can give him Paracetmol or Ibuprofen for pain relief and to get rid of any fever, steps that will make him feel comfortable. Follow the dosage instructions on the leaflet or bottle, as giving more than the recommended dose could be very dangerous for your child. Speak to your doctor for the correct pain relief dosage.
Antibiotics
Perhaps, your doctor could wait a while for the infection to clear up. Else, he may recommend treating the infection with antibiotics, particularly he is running a fever. Whether to give your child antibiotics or not could depend on:
• The severity of the infection
• His age
• The frequency of his middle ear infections
• The duration of his infection
• Whether he has had complications from ear infections earlier
• Whether he has any other medical problems
