| Children are the most susceptible to ear infections. | | | | include pain and sometimes fever. For very young |
| This is because their Eustachian tubes are | | | | children, you will just notice them crying and pulling |
| narrower and shorter than the adults. There are | | | | at their ears. The child will also seem listless or |
| many factors that can affect a child's ear ache. | | | | irritable. They will find it difficult to eat or sleep. |
| Ear aches can be painful, especially for children. | | | | Treatment of ear infections depends on the root |
| Although one may feel it originating from inside | | | | cause of the infection. If the infection is mainly |
| the ear, its actual source can be from the inside | | | | due to the onset of bacteria, antibiotics will be |
| or along the structured areas which share similar | | | | prescribed. For the pain, Ibuprofen and |
| nerves going towards the brain. This is regarded | | | | Acetaminophen can be given even to children. |
| as "referred pain." | | | | Examples of Ibuprofen include Children's Motrin |
| When there is pain inside the ear, it is usually due | | | | and Children's Advil. Examples of Acetaminophen |
| to an infection. In children, the most common of | | | | include Infant's Tylenol or Children's Tylenol. On no |
| all ear infections is Acute Otitis Media or the | | | | account should you give Aspirin to a child. There |
| middle ear infection. Next would be the Otitis | | | | have been reports linking it to the Reye's |
| Externa or the ear canal infection. It is very | | | | syndrome. |
| painful for children and even adults. | | | | Another pain treatment for an ear ache is to |
| Another cause of an ear ache is when there is a | | | | apply a warm heating pad onto the aching ear. |
| blockage on the Eustachian tube, preventing | | | | You can also apply some ear drops, although you |
| pressure inside the middle ear from balancing with | | | | would need a prescription for it. Children are more |
| outer pressure. The Eustachian tube is the tube | | | | prone to ear infections because their Eustachian |
| connecting the back part of the nose onto the | | | | tubes are narrower and shorter than the adults'. |
| middle ear. This type of pressure is similar to the | | | | Children ages of 1 to 3 years old are more |
| ones felt during undersea diving and airplane flights. | | | | susceptible. |
| You can blow on the nose of swallow to relieve | | | | Children have a higher risk of ear infection if they |
| such pains. | | | | are exposed to people that smoke, have ear |
| For ear pains that originate from the outer ear, | | | | infections in their family history, attend a day care |
| this may be due to tumors or infections along the | | | | facility and if they had ear infections previously. |
| throat and nose areas. If there is an ear ache | | | | Aside from this, if children are prematurely born |
| with no apparent ear disorder, it is a standard | | | | or if they have a low birth weight and use bottles |
| procedure of doctors to check the sinuses, nose | | | | in bed, they are also prone to ear infections. |
| and gums, along with the teeth, tongue and jaw | | | | Other high risk causes of ear infections in children |
| points. They will also check the throat, tonsils and | | | | include allergies (nasal congestion), frequent colds |
| windpipe, as well as the voice box, salivary glands | | | | or if they use pacifiers or possess nasal speech. |
| inside the cheeks and the esophagus. | | | | Boys are more prone to ear infections than girls. |
| An acute ear infection can clear up in a matter of | | | | To prevent these ear infections from afflicting |
| 1 up to 2 weeks. There are instances when an | | | | your children again, especially if your child had at |
| ear infection becomes chronic and will last longer. | | | | least 3 in just a span of 6 months, the doctor will |
| After the infection, the fluid usually stays inside | | | | suggest that your child take a low dosage of |
| the middle ear. This can lead to other infections | | | | antibiotics every day. This is especially needed |
| and even hearing loss. | | | | during the winter season when infections more |
| Common symptoms of acute ear infections | | | | often occur. |