By the time your child is three years old, they will have most likely experienced an ear infection. Five out of 6 kids will have one by their first birthday. Ear infections are one of the most common reasons kids visit New Canaan Pediatrics.
Otitis Media, Middle Ear Infection
While there are several types of ear infections, the most common is a middle ear infection, Otitis Media.
When the Eustachian tube in your child’s middle ear traps fluid infected with a bacteria or virus, the eardrum swells and causes painful pressure. Your child will feel more discomfort in the middle ear when laying down.
Ear infections are more common when your child is young because their Eustachian tubes are tiny, just 18mm, and positioned horizontally, making drainage more difficult and increasing the likelihood of infection. As your child grows, the tubes get bigger, up to 35mm in adults, and move to a 45˚ angle, improving drainage.
Your child may experience trouble balancing and walking when they have a middle ear infection. They may also have muffled hearing and may not respond to sound. Because pain increases when lying down, your child may have difficulty sleeping. They could also run a fever over 100° F.
Sometimes, after a cold or sore throat, your child may have non-infected fluid in the ear, known as an effusion. We may treat the effusion with over-the-counter nasal spray and continue to monitor your child to make sure an infection does not develop.
If there is drainage, other than ear wax, from your child’s ear, call our office immediately. Your child will need to be examined to determine if an eardrum has ruptured. This can be treated to heal completely.
Will My Child Get Antibiotics?
Some middle ear infections are caused by viruses and will resolve on their own without antibiotics. Your New Canaan Pediatrics provider may ask you to monitor your child at home for several days before we recommend antibiotics. However, infants younger than 6 months of age are almost always treated with antibiotics for middle ear infections.
Never use an oil, especially a hot oil, as this can permanently damage the eardrum.
Give your child the appropriate and recommended doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen for treating pain or fever. If your child runs a fever for more than two days, call our office at 203-972-4250 or message us through your patient portal.
My Child Gets Ear Infections All The Time!
We may diagnose chronic ear infections if your child:
- Has three or more ear infections in 3 months
- Has four or more infections within a year
- Does not respond to antibiotics
- Has a hearing loss
- Has a tear or hole in the eardrum
Chronic ear infections can cause delays in speech development and social skills because of hearing loss. We may discuss ear “tubes” being placed into the tympanic membrane of the ears to help drain fluid. These tiny tubes are surgically inserted into the eardrum by an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT). The tubes allow air into the middle ear to stabilize air pressure and drain fluid.
How Can I Prevent Ear Infections?
Infants and toddlers should never be put to bed with a bottle as this increases the risk for middle ear infections. Use a saline nasal spray and nasal aspirator or bulb to help release and clean out congestion. Encourage older children to blow their nose frequently when they have a runny nose or congestion.
While many middle ear infections cannot be prevented, there is good news; children typically outgrow these infections by their fifth birthday.