If a doctor does prescribe antibiotics, a 10-day course is usually recommended. usually don't relieve pain in the first 24 hours and have only a minimal effect after thatĪlso, overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are much harder to treat.won't help an infection caused by a virus.Kids will get medicine for pain relief without antibiotics for a few days to see if the infection gets better.Īntibiotics aren't routinely prescribed because they: Because most ear infections can clear on their own, many doctors take a "wait-and-see" approach. Not all kinds need to be treated with antibiotics. The type of otitis affects treatment options. the type and severity of the ear infection.To treat an ear infection, health care providers consider many things, including: They use an otoscope, a small instrument similar to a flashlight, to see the eardrum. How Are Ear Infections Diagnosed?ĭoctors will do a physical exam and examine the ear. In some cases, an infection can last longer (with fluid in the middle ear for 6 weeks or longer), even after antibiotic treatment. Middle ear infections often go away on their own within 2 or 3 days, even without any specific treatment. Infections are common during winter weather, when many people get upper respiratory tract infections or colds (a child with an ear infection also might have cold symptoms, like a runny or stuffy nose or a cough). Ear infections are more common in boys than girls.Įar infections are not contagious, but the colds that sometimes cause them can be. Other things that can put kids at risk include secondhand smoke, bottle-feeding, and being around other kids in childcare. Their adenoids, gland-like structures at the back of the throat, are larger and can interfere with the opening of the eustachian tubes.The tubes are also narrower, so more likely to get blocked. Their shorter, more horizontal eustachian tubes let bacteria and viruses find their way into the middle ear more easily.Kids (especially in the first 2 to 4 years of life) get ear infections more than adults do for several reasons: It might not cause symptoms, but in some kids, the fluid creates a sensation of ear fullness or "popping." Why Do Kids Get Ear Infections? Otitis media with effusion is when noninfected fluid builds up in the ear. When doctors refer to an ear infection, they usually mean otitis media rather than swimmer's ear (or otitis externa). Then, viruses or bacteria grow in the mucus and make pus, which builds up in the middle ear. The tubes let mucus drain from the middle ear into the throat.Ī cold, throat infection, acid reflux, or allergies can make the eustachian tubes swell. How Do Ear Infections Happen?Ī middle ear infection usually happens because of swelling in one or both of the eustachian tubes (which connect the middle ear to the back of the throat). A child with a ruptured eardrum might feel dizzy or nauseated, and have ringing or buzzing in the ear. This is a common cause of ruptured eardrums in children. If the pressure from the fluid buildup gets high enough, it can rupture the eardrum, with fluid draining from the ear. Older kids can complain about ear pain, but a younger child might just tug at the ear or be fussy and cry more than usual. Chewing, sucking, and lying down can cause painful pressure changes in the middle ear. trouble eating, drinking, or sleeping.What Are the Signs & Symptoms of an Ear Infection?Įar pain is the main sign of a middle ear infection. The pus pushes on the eardrum, which can be very painful. When a child has an ear infection (also called otitis media), the middle ear fills with pus (infected fluid). Ear infections happen when viruses or bacteria get into the middle ear, the space behind the eardrum.
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