Ear Infections
Your young child has yet another ear infection, meaning a sleepless night for both of you. Is there any way to prevent this painful ailment? Most cases of otitis media tend to be associated with colds, but preventing colds in children is not always possible.
However, parents can do three things to possibly cut down the risk of ear infections:
1. Breastfeed. Babies who are breastfed are less likely to experience ear infections during their first year, research has found.
2. Don't smoke around the child. Secondhand smoke increases a child's susceptibility to colds and other respiratory ailments that can lead to ear infections.
3. Avoid day care if possible. Any illness or bacteria that is affecting one of the children will soon spread to many of the others.
Treatment options
Antibiotics remain the treatment of choice for acute ear infections, despite concerns about drug-resistant strains of bacteria blamed on antibiotic overuse. If a child just has some fluid behind the ear and it may or may not be an infection, it's better to be conservative and not prescribe an antibiotic and see whether the condition clears up on its own," he said. "But, if we are sure it is an ear infection, we will treat with antibiotics because that's what typically works.
Generally, the antibiotic will begin clearing up the infection in a day or two -- although the child should finish the entire course of medication to make sure the infection is totally cured. Over-the-counter pain medications can also be used to make the child more comfortable.
Other treatment options -- surgically inserting tubes into the ears to help them drain or removing the adenoids (tissue in the cavity at the back of the mouth that can interfere with hearing and breathing) -- should only be considered if infections return every month or two. And, there is some consolation for parents: Most children outgrow ear infections by age 2 or 3.
Before your child sees the doctor...
To help ease earaches, give your child acetaminophen (such as Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (such as Advil®) that's specially formulated for infants or children. Analgesic ear drops will also numb the ear and provide some relief. If your child has frequent earaches, you might want to ask your physician about a prescription for these drops.
Hot-water bottles or heating pads can also be tried, although their effectiveness hasn't been proven.
Last Updated: September 24, 2009
