My ear hurts.....

It can be difficult to tell, but if your child has a cough or runny nose and then suddenly develops a fever for three to five days, it may be caused by an ear infection. Ear infections are among the most common illnesses of early childhood. Three out of four children have had at least one ear infection by age 3, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Dr KD Gupta, Consultant ENT Surgeon with Sir Gangaram Hospital discloses, “The ear cavity internally opens into the upper part of the mouth cavity - one on each side by a tube like structure. This tube allows ventilation of the ear cavity. In young children the tube is short, wide and straight and this allows easy spread of infection from nose, nasopharynx (upper part of mouth cavity). This is the reason that young children are prone to ear infections.”

However he is quick to mention that children most affected are between 3 to 7 years of age. This is because babies are often fed improperly (whether breast fed or bottle fed). Dr. Gupta even points out, “ During feeding a baby's head should be raised. If babies are fed lying flat, milk regurgitates easily from the mouth into the ear and an infection sets in.”

Symptoms

Ear infections can be hard to detect, especially if your child is too young to say, "My ear hurts." Children with ear infections may:

• Tug or pull at their ears
• Cry more than usual
• Have trouble sleeping
• Fail to respond to sounds
• Be unusually irritable
• Develop a fever
• Develop fluid that drains from the ears
• Have headaches

Treatment options

Your child's treatment decision depends on several factors including:

• Your child's age
• History of previous infections
• Whether your child has any underlying medical problems

Most ear infections safely clear up on their own without any antibiotics.

“By 7-10 years of your baby the Eustachian tube (the tube mentioned earlier) becomes larger, narrower and less straight. Hence there is a less chance of ear infections,” Dr Gupta adds.

Normally, treating the pain, steam inhalation and allowing the body time to heal itself suffice. Curing the infection may need a dose of antibiotics. When giving antibiotics to young kids, follow the dosage, schedule and your doctor’s advice strictly.

Watch out

Dr. K.D. Gupta warns that recurrent infections can impact hearing. He says, “Children with persistent ear infections do run the risk of hearing loss. If a child turns the volume of TV high and does not respond properly are warning signs for parents warranting an evaluation of the ears of the child by an ENT specialist.”

Prevention

• Protect your child from secondhand smoke. Keep your child at bay from smoke. Stay in smoke-free environment.
• Breast-feed your baby for at least six months. Breast milk contains antibodies that offer protection from ear infections.
• Ask your child's doctor about the pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar). Studies indicate that it slightly reduces the risk of ear infections as well.
• Try to limit the use of any group childcare. Children in childcare settings can easily spread germs to each other.
• Washing your hands often. Hand-washing stops infection from spreading by killing germs.