Bebcare Academy Knowledge Series - Baby Ear Infections

Bebcare Academy Knowledge Series - Baby Ear Infections

A blog post by Brian Murphy

Baby ear infections is another very common problem among newborns. This is more common for children under the age of 3. Young kids have a more horizontal Eustachian tubes (channels that connect the middle ear to the throat), allowing fluid to collect instead of drain.

Symptoms

Nearly every child gets an infection in their middle ear at some point in time. Usually by the age of 3, five out of six kids have had one such infection. The infection, also known as acute otitis media in scientific terms, is the most common reason for trips to the pediatrician and the top cause of ear pain in babies.

Signs that your baby's ear might have an infection include:

• Signs that he is not hearing well
• Pull at one or both ears
• Leak fluid from the ear
• Have trouble with balancing himself
• Cry a lot and seem irritated
• Not sleeping well
• Have a fever of over 100 F (37.8 C)

Course of Action for Parents

Warm Compress on Ears
Try placing a warm, moist compress over your child’s ear for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Acetaminophen (aka Tylenol)
If your baby is older than 6 months, acetaminophen (Tylenol) may help relieve pain and fever. Use the medication as recommended by your doctor and the instructions on the pain reliever’s bottle.

Warm Oil
If there is no fluid draining from your child’s ear and a ruptured eardrum isn’t suspected, place a few drops of room temperature or slightly warmed olive oil or sesame oil in the affected ear.

Stay Hydrated
Offer your child fluids often. Swallowing can help open the Eustachian tube so the trapped fluid can drain.

Seek Doctor's Help
Seek doctor's help if you don't feel comfortable dealing with the ear infection yourself. It's always safer to seek professionals treatment as early on as possible.

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- Brian Murphy