Ear infections are one of the most common illnesses in children, a frustration for many parents and a nightmare for young children, causing discomfort, fussiness and disruptions to sleep schedules. The signs are clear but the cause is not so straightforward.
Anyone can develop an ear infection but children are easily affected than adults. Our little ones catch 10 to 15 colds yearly which creates the perfect condition for bacteria that causes ear infections. There are several ways to prevent ear infections in children, babies and toddlers so hopefully, I can share my experience which will apply to, and be of benefit to most parents.
What Is An Ear Infection?
An Ear infection is the swelling or inflammation of the middle ear space caused by bacteria. This is also known as Otitis media (oh-tite-iss mee-dee-ah, or middle ear infection).
The child’s Eustachian tubes become blocked, leading to fluid buildup in the middle ear, trapping bacteria and causing an infection. This can be caused by colds, feeding positions, injury and more.
In my baby’s case, it was the feeding position and this is information I have gone on to share with many friends, family and health professionals.
What Is The Eustachian Tube?
The Eustachian tube is a narrow opening or tube that connects the middle ear with the nasal-sinus cavity (back of your nose). This tube helps to drain fluid from the middle ear and balance pressure in the middle ear which is commonly felt as your ears popping.
Common Causes of Ear Infections
One of the common but overlooked causes is bottle or breastfeeding babies in their sleep position (Baby laying flat on their back), baby laying sideways (Baby sideways), or feeding baby to sleep sideways (Baby sideways).
Note: There is a difference between:
- Breastfeeding baby sideways (Baby is awake)
- Breastfeeding baby to sleep sideways (Baby sleeps while being fed).
When a baby is awake and drinking, they can reject or pull back when there’s more milk than they can handle. But when the baby sleeps mid-feed, any extra milk can go through the Eustachian tube to the back of their ears.
Other causes of ear infections are:
- Colds and sinus infections
- Redness in the ear
- Sore throats
- Other respiratory infection
- Pacifier use
- Ear infections in family history
- Changes in altitude or climate
- Allergies
- Birth defect, affecting eustachian tube function
- Excess teething saliva and mucus
- Tobacco smoke-filled home or environment
How To Reduce or Prevent Ear Infections
Ear infections are difficult to prevent but there are a few ways to try and reduce the risks.
Feeding
Avoid feeding babies when they are lying flat or sideways
Vaccinations
The flu vaccine will be a good start depending on the age of your child.
Pacifiers and Thumb Sucking
Pacifiers and thumb-sucking are linked to a higher risk of ear infection. According to studies, sucking results in the abnormal opening of the ear canal, letting in bacteria.
Cigarettes or Smoke
A child’s exposure to second-hand smoke or smoke-filled environments will increase the risk of infections.
Types of Ear Infections
So far I have been talking about the very basic and most common form of ear infection also known as “otitis media” or “acute otitis media”. There are three main types of ear infections combined with different symptoms.
Otitis media or Acute Otitis media
This is the most common ear infection in which the is swollen and infected with fluid trapped behind the eardrum. Symptoms range from ear tugging to fever (for babies).
Otitis media with effusion
This is mostly the result of a previous ear infection where some fluid still remains behind the ear drum. There may be no symptoms but your doctor can detect this using a Tympanometer to measure air pressure in the middle ear.
Chronic Otitis media effusion
When fluid from previous ear infections remains or keeps returning continuously, without any signs of infection. This can affect hearing and also make it difficult for children to resist new ear infections.
In most cases, when a common ear infection returns frequently in children after a course of antibiotics, your doctor may start looking at the other two types. My advice is always to make sure your child completes their medication or antibiotics exactly as prescribed.
This is also when you start changing feeding habits like feeding children flat on their back or on their side for a few weeks to make sure that is not the cause of the recurring fluid behind the ear.
Common Symptoms of Ear Infections?
When your child is not old enough to alert you about pain in their ears, you may just have to settle for one of these telltale signs.
- The child has Fever (babies and younger children)
- Not drinking or eating or drinking as normal
- Pulling away from breast or bottle (Younger baby)
- Loss of appetite
- Child Pulling hard or poking the ear
- Fussiness and crying than usual
- Child has earaches at night
- Child shaking their head
- Sudden Clumsiness or problems with balance
- Sore throat, runny nose or cough
- Child has Difficulty sleeping
- Child has fluid draining from the ear (This should be taken more seriously)
- Child not hearing well
Common Treatment(s) For Ear Infections
Depending on the child’s age, medical history and symptoms, most doctors will prescribe antibiotics for a few days.
If you notice ear wax a few weeks after treatment, that is a good sign. You can use extra virgin olive oil eardrops for your child. Always speak to your doctor before using any eardrops.
Surgery may be considered as treatment if the ear infection is anything but the common type.
Conclusion
Ear infections, just like colds and flu are very common in children, but there are several ways to make sure this is not inflicted by parents. An ear Infections from cold or usual sources is normal but make sure you identify the signs before they get serious.
All opinions shared in this post are partly my own experiences and research over the years. Always seek medical advice from your health professionals while using this as a comfort guide.
Questions People Ask
Are ear infections contagious?
No, ear infections cannot spread from one child to another but the coughs and colds that cause the infections are contagious.
How common are ear infections?
Colds are known to easily turn into an ear infection, and kids will get 10 to 15 colds every year. Out of every six children, five will get at least one ear infection before their third birthday, and the number one reason for frequent visits by parents to the doctor is for this same reason.
