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Ear infections are the second most common cause after a common cold where parents seek the advice of the doctor. It is important to recognize it and take proper and timely treatment as ear infections have the chance of becoming recurrent, and at times chronic, resulting in permanent ear damage.
A tube called the Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the nasal passages. The main function of this tube is to supply air to the middle ear from the nasal passages. Common colds caused by bacteria or viruses lead to obstruction of the eustachian tube which results in collection of fluid in the middle ear, leading to ear infections. Younger children are at an increased risk of ear infections because their eustachian tubes are shorter and horizontal in shape, and get easily blocked as compared to adults.
How to detect an infection
Here are some ways to recognize your child has an ear infection.
- Excessive crying, especially when the child also has a cold.
- If your child is continuously pulling at the ears.
- Presence of high fever along with irritability.
- A thick yellow fluid is flowing from your child’s ear. This is the result of bursting or puncturing of the eardrum.
- Hearing loss, if persistent fluid in the middle ear.
Risk factors for ear infections
- Children who attend day care are exposed to more bacteria and viruses, and hence more infections.
- Inflammation due to respiratory infections, irritants (including cigarette smoke), or allergies blocks the eustachian tubes and causes excessive fluid secretion, which can lead to an infection.
- Children who are bottle-fed are more vulnerable.
- Children who use pacifiers also have higher risk.
- Children with certain craniofacial abnormalities are at an increased risk.
Even though ear infection is the most common cause, earache in your child could also be due to other reasons:
- Water, soap, or shampoo left behind in the ear
- Sudden changes in air pressure, such as while traveling on an airplane
- Injury caused by an external object lodged in your child’s ear
- Accumulation of earwax
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