Ear Problems

Let us take a look at the common ear problems in children, their causes and symptoms and some information on combating these issues. In this articleEaracheGlue EarHearing LossEar Wax ProblemCauses of Ear Infection in ChildrenHow is Ear Infection in Children Treated?How to Prevent Ear Problems in Children?EaracheIf your child has fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and loss of appetite for no apparent reason and is tugging at her ear, she probably has an ear infection.Glue EarIf the middle ear infection gets aggravated, it may result in condition known as glue ear. In this condition ear gets filled with a thick fluid. A minor operation is needed in order to get rid of this condition. The fluid is drained from the ear by using a tube called grommet. This condition is mainly prevalent in younger children. Hearing LossHearing loss is caused mainly due to ear infection. Children are unable to hear as result of the discharge in ear caused due to infection. This fluid in ear makes it difficult for children to hear. This kind of hearing impairment in children is temporary and it can be corrected by treating the ear infection.Ear Wax ProblemChildren can also cope with hearing loss due to the blockage of ear wax in their ears. If you notice that too much of ear wax is blocked in your child’s ears, do not try to remove it by yourself or put anything in your child’s ears. You must take your child to the doctor. Your doctor may remove the ear wax from your child’s ears by following a suitable treatment.Causes of Ear Infection in ChildrenOtitis media or inflammation of the middle ear is a very common childhood ailment. A baby spends most of her time lying down. This gives ample opportunity for bacteria to travel from her nose and throat to the ear. Consequently, the mucous membranes of the Eustachian tubes (that link the middle ear to the back of the throat) become blocked and inflamed, trapping the bacteria in the middle ear where they multiply.How is Ear Infection in Children Treated?If you suspect that your baby has an ear infection, call the doctor. Never put anything in your babys ear or apply hot compresses to the outside of the ear. Leave the treatment to the doctor. He will probably prescribe antibiotics to combat the infection and nose drops to treat the blockage in the Eustachian tubes. Visiting an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist is the best option to be considered in this case.How to Prevent Ear Problems in Children?Here are some tips which parents can follow to prevent ear problems in children.Make sure that your children do not come in contact with other infected children.Get your child vaccinated with appropriate vaccination on time.Make sure that you do not let illnesses like cold and throat problems aggravate and treat them immediately with the help of your doctor. Avoid smoking in front of children. Children who are exposed to smoke are more susceptible to ear infections.It is also marked that ear problems are common in bottle-fed babies. So make sure that you bottle-fed your baby only if breastfeeding is not possible at all.In addition to the above preventive measures, you must make sure that you do not put anything in the ears of your child. Do not put things like oil etc; in your child’s ears which can aggravate the existing problems or cause any other kind of ear problem in your child. Be very careful while cleaning your child’s ears. Do not put ear buds in your child’s ears in order to avoid the risk of causing harm to the child’s ear drums. If your child is facing any kind of ear problem, contact your doctor immediately.