The Common Ear Infection- Otitis Media!

What am I talking about? I am talking about Otitis Media-the common ear infection . Our experiences in child rearing have brought us to another milestone..the first ear infection. Olivia started out the week with a cold. Runny nose, irritability and a slight cough but no fever or any other tangible signs that Olivia had anything but the common cold. As the week went on and we were having more and more sleepless nights, we decided that something just did not seem right.

Now I had noticed some symptoms in Olivia that she did not start the week out with. She was tugging at her ears and her ear was a bit "crusty". Being the Mom of a toddler, I was used to her sticking stuff in her ears all the time: markers, pens, crayons, sticky, dirty fingers. So having to clean the substances out of her ears was all too common in our house. This in itself, did not give me the inclination she had an ear infection. I did not think much of the "crusty discharge" in her ear. There were other things that Olivia was doing that told us she was not herself, so off to the doctor we went.

The doctor took one look in her right ear and exclaimed that she did in fact have an ear infection. My first reaction was shock, since I was of the mind that a baby with an ear infection usually runs a fever. Olivia had not run a fever the whole week. The doctor explained to me that in actuality, only 50% of children run a fever. The fever is caused by the pus buildup in the ear and the body's effort to rid the infection. Thankfully, we had gotten to the doctor in time and Olivia's ears had not gotten to that phase yet.

Children under the age of 7 are more susceptible to ear infections since they are still in the development stages both physically and in their immunity. But how does an ear infection develop? A small tube connects your ear to your throat. A cold can cause this tube to swell. When the tube swells enough to become blocked, it can trap fluid inside your ear. This makes it a perfect place for germs to grow and cause an infection. Ear infections happen mostly to young children because their tubes are smaller and get blocked more easily. The Eustachian (pronounced "you-stay-shun") tube is shorter in children and at more of a horizontal angle than adults which enables bacteria and viruses to settle in the ear. Children have not had a chance to develop a resistance to the viruses and bacteria that cause ear infections.

Recognizing an ear infection can be daunting, especially if your child cannot tell you what is wrong. So keep an eye out for the following signs. Your baby may exhibit some of these symptoms. Believe it or not, though, in about a third of children with ear infections, symptoms are not apparent.

• Tugging or poking the ear


• Sleepless, restless, irritable nights


• More crying or fussy than usual


• Ear drainage


• Balance difficulties/Dizziness


• Hearing problems


• Fever


• Loss of Appetite


• Nausea


• Vomiting

An ear infection is usually brought on by several factors. In the case of Olivia, her's was most likely due to her cold and congestion. Here are some common causes of ear infections:

Age-According to the American Academy of Pediactrics, ear infections "occur in babies between the ages of 3 months and 3 years old. Also, the younger a child is at the time of the first ear infection, the greater the chance he will have repeated infections." In fact, age is such a factor when it comes to ear infections that more than 3 out of 4 children will experience an ear infections before they turn 3 years of age.

Colds/Flu and Allergies-Bacterial or viral infections, stuffy noses and congestion can all cause ear infections.

Tobacco Smoke-Being around smoke or the smell of tobacco can cause problems with a baby's immune system. Even just the smell of tobacco on a parent's clothes or hair can be hard for your little one to process. Need I say more?

Bottle-feeding-It's not necessary the bottle feeding, but the angle the baby is held when bottle-feeding. The baby's head should be held above the stomach level to avoid the Eustachian tubes from being blocked. Laying a baby down with a bottle could be risky if you are trying to avoid ear infections.

Once your child has experienced an ear infection, it is more likely they will have one again. There are ways to prevent them from becoming a chronic nuisance. First, stay away from people with colds. Hand-washing is the best way to fight germs that cause ear infections. Stay away from tobacco smoke. Make sure your child does not go to sleep while sucking on a bottle. Be sure to immunize your children at the appropriate ages. This will cut down on their low tolerance to certain viruses.

Once your doctor has determined your child has an ear infection, they may prescribe antibiotics or even decide to see if your child's immune system can fight the infection itself, depending on severity. Either way, ear infections will go away when treated properly. If there is severe build-up of fluid, it may take weeks for it to drain completely. Just keep your little one comfortable and their immune system will take care of the rest.

Here are some helpful links we found interesting:

http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/ear-infection/ear-infections-topic-overview

http://www.kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=familydoctor&lic=44&cat_id=114&article_set=22319&ps=304