How Can I Tell If My Child Has An Earache

There are some health issues that are very common in children. Earaches can signal a more serious problem, such as an ear infection. Ear infections are so common in children that 90 percent of children will experience an ear infection at some point. However, age can be a huge factor on whether or not your child may have an ear infection. Between the ages of 6 months to 4 years old, your child is at an increased risk.

There are symptoms of ear infections that can signal there is a problem in the early stages. Children old enough to speak may tell you their ear hurts. For those with younger children, you can look for the signs. Signs of ear infections include pulling at the ears, crying, fever, and even trouble sleeping. Other signs such a trouble with balancing and fluid coming from the ear canal signal a deeper infection.

Although ear infections are very common in infants, toddlers, and children, you can help prevent them. While feeding your baby, be sure not to let milk run into their ears. This tends to happen while the baby is feeding and becomes unattached temporarily. Vaccinations also offer the benefits of decreasing ear infections. For example, pneumococcal and an annual flu vaccine have decreased chances of ear infections in many children. Studies have found that parents who smoke have children more likely to experience an ear infection. It is best to smoke outside and away from the child to prevent inhaling of secondhand smoke.

Regardless of how serious the ear infection is, it’s be not to attempt to clean a baby’s or toddler’s ear on your own. If you’re concerned about the earwax build up in your baby’s ear, you should consult the doctor. The same applies if you suspect that your child may have an ear infection. Cleaning a baby or child’s ear with something such as a cotton swab could not only push ear wax further in, but it can even bust the ear drum.

Many parents assume that their child is getting ear infections one after another. However, this is not always the case. Antibiotics may not fight off an infection completely meaning there are future ear infections to come. Although it may not seem common, it’s not unheard of for a child to need surgery due to an infection. Some may even need to have tubes placed into their ear canals to allow air to go through which will prevent fluid build up and bacteria from growing. These tubes can be removed once the ear has further developed which is usually by 4 to 5 years old.

Most ear infections can be treated easily by a doctor who may prescribe some antibiotics safe for children. It is best to take your child to the doctor as soon as you begin to notice the common symptoms of earaches and infections. The longer an infection goes untreated, the worse it will get. Long term infections can cause decrease in hearing or hearing loss entirely.

How Can I Tell If My Child Has An Earache 2017-01-24T00:07:00-08:00 Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: edumaximal