{"id":2007,"date":"2023-03-15T11:36:58","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T11:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/?p=2007"},"modified":"2023-03-15T11:36:58","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T11:36:58","slug":"middle-ear-infection-everything-parents-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/middle-ear-infection-everything-parents-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Middle Ear Infection: Everything Parents Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Typically, ear infections occur when bacteria or viruses enter the space behind the eardrum (the middle ear). In the case of otitis media in children, the affected middle area fills up with infected fluid (pus), which causes pressure (pushes) the eardrum, causing pain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fortunately, there are several effective middle ear infection treatment options available. And if you are looking for exceptional <\/span><a href=\"\/worldwide-pediatrics\/pediatrician-plantation-florida\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">general pediatric care in Plantation and Doral, Florida<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, you can rest assured that the expert team at <\/span><a href=\"\/worldwide-pediatrics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Worldwide Pediatrics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> can help you and your toddler treat ear infections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Symptoms of Otitis Media<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2009\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Symptoms-of-Otitis-Media.jpg\" alt=\"Baby Girl Holding Her Ear in Pain\" width=\"1000\" height=\"763\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Symptoms-of-Otitis-Media-200x153.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Symptoms-of-Otitis-Media-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Symptoms-of-Otitis-Media-400x305.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Symptoms-of-Otitis-Media-600x458.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Symptoms-of-Otitis-Media-768x586.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Symptoms-of-Otitis-Media-800x610.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Symptoms-of-Otitis-Media.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Typically, ear pain is the most prominent sign of the problem, but some kids might also experience the following symptoms:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Trouble sleeping<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Decreased appetite<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Trouble drinking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Trouble sucking and chewing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lying down can be painful as it leads to pressure changes in the infected area<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Older children will often complain about ear pain. If left untreated, the pressure builds up in the middle ear and may rupture the eardrum, leading to leakage from the ear. Symptoms of a ruptured eardrum in children may include nausea, dizziness, buzzing, and ringing in the ear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Causes of Middle Ear Infections<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As mentioned above, an ear infection usually occurs because of swelling on either one or both eustachian tubes that connect the middle ear to the throat\u2019s back. These tubes enable mucus to drain to the throat from the middle ear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When these tubes swell from allergies, acid reflux, throat infections, or a common cold, the mucus is blocked and can\u2019t be drained, enabling bacteria and viruses to thrive in the mucus, creating pus, which then tends to build up in the middle ear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When discussing ear infections, experts usually refer to otitis media rather than otitis externa or swimmer\u2019s ear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Children (most often between the ages of two and four) usually develop otitis media more often than adults because of the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Their eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal, allowing viruses and bacteria to enter the area more easily. The tubes are also narrower, meaning that even minor swelling can block them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They have larger adenoids beyond the nose, which can interfere with the function of these tubes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s also worth mentioning that otitis media isn\u2019t contagious, but the reasons behind them (like colds) are. This means that ear infections in children are more prevalent during colder months when most people deal with upper respiratory tract problems. This is why most ear infections in children are also accompanied by common cold symptoms such as a cough and a stuffy or runny nose.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Long Does Otitis Media Last?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fortunately, these infections will often resolve on their own in the span of two to three days without the need for treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Still, there are cases when the fluid remains in the middle ear even after the infection is over. And if this lasts for longer than three months, the condition might require treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Establishing a Diagnosis<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most often, pediatricians will perform a physical exam and take a closer look at the ear with an otoscope. This small medical instrument looks like a flashlight and enables the providers to see the eardrum better.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Middle Ear Infection Treatment<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Treating otitis media may include several different methods based on the following factors:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The frequency of recurring ear infections in the child<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The severity of the infection and its type<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How long the infection lasted<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Other risk factors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The child\u2019s age<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Whether the infection interferes with hearing or not<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Because most of these infections resolve on their own, not all children will need to take antibiotics. Many experts take a \u201cwait-and-see\u201d approach initially. They might prescribe pain-relieving medicine without antibiotics at first and wait to see if the infection resolves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, antibiotics might not help when the cause of the infection is a virus. It also won\u2019t eliminate the fluid and might lead to other side effects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Still, if the pediatrician does recommend antibiotics, it will only be a short, ten-day course or shorter for younger children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, children may require ear tube surgery in rare and more severe cases where the infections are frequent and interfere with hearing, causing other problems such as speech delay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This procedure will be performed by an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist who will surgically insert tympanostomy tubes that help with draining the fluid from the middle ear, thus aiding in equalizing ear pressure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Still, antibiotics will be the most common treatment, even in those cases when a child frequently gets ear infections.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, the \u201cwait-and-see\u201d strategy may not be the best for some children, especially those with genetic conditions like Down syndrome, cochlear implants, cleft palate, or immune system disorders.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Can Parents Do?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Parents can give their children ibuprofen or acetaminophen to ease their discomfort and fever. Pediatricians may also recommend getting pain-relieving ear drops when the infection causes more pronounced pain and the eardrum is not ruptured.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Otitis Media and Hearing\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Another thing parents should know is that the fluid buildup in the infected area may also block sound, leading to temporary hearing problems. As such, children with otitis media might:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">listen to the radio or TV louder<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">talk louder<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">not respond to soft and low sounds<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">seem inattentive at school<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On the other hand, if the eardrum has ruptured, children might experience buzzing and ringing accompanied by hearing difficulties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Preventing Otitis Media<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2010\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Preventing-Otitis-Media.jpg\" alt=\"Otorhinolaryngologist Examines Little Girl\u2019s Ear With Otoscope.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Preventing-Otitis-Media-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Preventing-Otitis-Media-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Preventing-Otitis-Media-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Preventing-Otitis-Media-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Preventing-Otitis-Media-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Preventing-Otitis-Media-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Preventing-Otitis-Media.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are a few things you can do to help your child evade ear infections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Breastfeeding newborns for over six months can help avoid early ear infection episodes. Bottle-fed babies should be held at an angle and not lying down with the bottle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Secondhand smoke may also increase the severity and frequency of infections, so steer clear of tobacco use in the presence of your children.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ensure that your child washes their hands often and well. This keeps germs away, the primary trigger of catching colds which may lead to otitis media.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Keep <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthychildren.org\/English\/safety-prevention\/immunizations\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">immunizations<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> up-to-date as current vaccines may help to prevent middle ear infections.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Get Help If Necessary<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In rare cases, these infections won\u2019t resolve on their own. At other times, frequent and severe infections can lead to other medical complications. When the earaches are accompanied by a fever and a sense of fullness in the ear, parents are encouraged to reach out to their child\u2019s pediatrician if there\u2019s no improvement in the symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As such, feel free to reach out to our team of caring and compassionate experts. We are here to cater to your child\u2019s every need and ensure that they get relief as soon as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For more information about infections and the things you can do to help ease your child\u2019s discomfort, contact us today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Typically, ear infections occur when bacteria or viruses enter the space behind the eardrum (the middle ear). In the case of otitis media in children, the affected middle area fills up with infected fluid (pus), which causes pressure (pushes) the eardrum, causing pain.\u00a0 Fortunately, there are several effective middle ear infection treatment options available. And<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[21,79],"tags":[80,428,430,429],"class_list":["post-2007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-childrens-health","category-ear-infection","tag-ear-infection","tag-middle-ear-infection","tag-middle-ear-infection-treatment","tag-otitis-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2007\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}