The middle ear is the location of the ear infections and is usually caused bybacteria.Babies and children get otitis media at a much greater rate than adults.Ear infections are the most common reason for parents to bring their children to the doctor.Some telltale signs of an ear infection can help you determine if your baby has one.If you think your child is having an ear problem, make an appointment with your family doctor.
Step 1: If you see sudden ear pain, be on the lookout.
The most common symptom of a middle ear infections is ear pain due to fluid build up from an inflammatory reaction.The pain will likely cause your baby to cry out of the blue.When lying down, the pain is worse because the ear is touching the pillow, so difficulty sleeping is to be expected.If you can, try to have your baby sleep on his back with the head of the bed propped up.In addition to crying in response to the pain, your infant may also tug or pull at his ear, so be on the lookout for that as an indicator of discomfort.
Step 2: If your baby is more irritating than usual, be suspicious.
In addition to crying more, your baby may show other signs of being uncomfortable such as being upset or cold.This stage usually precedes the crying stage by a few hours and may coincide with waking up early from a nap or not being able to sleep.As inflammation builds in the ear, a feeling of pressure or fullness increases, leading to throbbing pain.Since she can't verbal communicate very well, an infant's headaches can make her pretty unhappy about things.A middle ear infection can be preceded by a sore throat, cold, or other upper respiratory issue.The Eustachian tubes, which run from the ears to the back of the throat, are used to transfer the mucus from one ear to another.Some infants with an ear infection may vomit.Infections that spread to the middle ear can be caused bybacteria, viruses, and allergic reactions to food and the environment.
Step 3: Poor hearing or response to sounds is a sign.
The ability to transmit sound is hampered as the middle ear fills up.Look for signs of poor hearing, not being attentive, or not responding to loud sounds.If he looks at you, clap your hands and call your baby's name.If he doesn't, that could be a sign of an ear problem.Your baby may have a lack of normal balance and temporarily reduced hearing.Inflammation can affect the balance of the inner ear.If your baby leans to one side or falls over, that could be a sign of an ear infection.Children get more ear infections than adults because their immune systems are not as developed and their Eustachian tubes are less inclined, making them susceptible to getting congested and no draining properly.
Step 4: Check for a high temperature.
The body tries to make it difficult for the organisms to reproduce and spread because most don't thrive in higher temperatures.A good sign that your baby is fighting something inside is a fever.Your baby's temperature should be monitored with a thermometer.Ear infections are usually caused by a temperature of 100F (37.7C) or higher.If you suspect an ear infection, don't measure your baby's temperature with an Ear Thermometer.The build up of warm fluid in the inner ear causes the eardrum to swell and cause inaccurate readings.If you want to be very accurate, you can use a rectal thermometer.Loss of appetite, flushed skin and increased thirst are some of the typical signs and symptoms of a fever.
Step 5: You can consult with your family physician.
If you've noticed any of the above signs for a few days, your parental instincts are going to explode!Make an appointment with the doctor.It's the best way to determine if your baby has a condition that needs medical attention.An otoscope is a lighted instrument used to look at the eardrum.A middle ear infection is caused by a red, bulging eardrum.A pneumatic otoscope is a device that blows air into the ear canal.A normal eardrum moves back and forth in response to the air current, whereas an eardrum with fluid behind it doesn't move much.If you observe a discharge of fluid, pus or blood from your baby's ear, that is a sign that it is more serious.If this is the case, you should bring your child to an emergency clinic or urgent care clinic right away, instead of waiting to see your doctor.Your doctor may be able to see your child right away if you check with her first.
Step 6: Ask your doctor if antibiotics are a good or bad idea.
Most ear infections in infants and children resolve on their own.What's best for your baby depends on a number of factors, including her age and severity of symptoms.Childhood ear infections usually improve within the first couple of days and most clear up without antibiotics within one to two weeks.If your baby appears to have mild ear pain in one ear for less than 48 hours and a high temperature of at least 102.2F, you should wait and see.Amoxicillin should be taken over seven to 10 days for children with ear infections.Antibiotics are only helpful for certain infections and not for others.Antibiotics can create even worse infections if they don't clear out the infection completely.The "good"bacteria of the GI tract can be killed by antibiotics.An alternative to antibiotics is ear drops.
Step 7: You can get a referral.
If your infant's problem has persisted for some time, he is not responding to treatment, or the ear infection has occurred frequently, you will most likely be referred to a specialist in ear, nose and throat conditions.Most childhood ear infections don't cause long-term problems, but frequent or persistent infections can result in serious consequences, such as impaired hearing, developmental delays (such as speech), widespread infection or tearing/perforation of the eardrum.Sometimes torn or perforated eardrums need surgery.If your baby has recurrent ear infections, the specialist may recommend a procedure to drain fluid from the middle ear via a small tube.Tubes stay in the ear drum to prevent infections.In about a year, the tube falls out on it's own.If placing tubes through the eardrum doesn't prevent ear infections, the otolaryngologist may consider removing the adenoids.