Ear infections are painful! In most families, children are more likely to get ear infections than the adults are. When a child has an ear ache, parents commonly take them to the pediatrician to seek immediate pain relief. The physician will likely check the child and diagnose them with acute otitis media (AOM). In the past, doctors have written billions of prescriptions for antibiotics for ear infections, but there is a growing concern about microbial resistance, so this trend are changing. Learning about AOM, its symptoms, causes, and prevention can guide the parent to the right treatment.

Personal Story

My ear hurt so bad! I had played almost daily with my children in our community pool. I went underwater multiple times for days on end. I developed swim ear, a type of ear infection. I had forgotten how painful an earache was. This experience gave me a lot of empathy for my children when they had painful ear infections.

What Otitis Media Is

Otitis media is commonly called ear infection. This occurs when there is a blockage in the Eustachian tube. This results in Inflammation and build-up of fluid in the inner middle ear which causes pressure and pain.

Possible Causes

There is an association between AOM and upper respiratory infections (URI). During an URI, the tonsils swell, and fever can cause dehydration which leads to thickened mucus. This mucus blocks the Eustachian tube. Teething is another possible connection to AOM, though it is not clear if the ear pain is from the teething itself or a problem with the Eustachian tube.

• Eustachian tubes- In a child’s anatomy, Eustachian tubes do not lie in as steep an angle as they do in adults. This causes fluid not to drain well, leaving a warm, moist environment for germs to multiply and cause an ear infection.
• Adenoids- Adenoids are near the opening of the Eustachian tubes. When they swell, it causes a blockage which can lead to an ear infection.

Symptoms

In children, the symptoms are:

• Cold, cough, runny nose, pain, fever, irritability.
• Pulling on ears and uncomfortable if lying down
• Poor appetite
• Headache

In adults, symptoms include:

• Ear pain
• Fluid draining from the ear
• Impaired hearing

Prevention

Prevention is the best goal.

• Breast feed, when possible.
• If bottle feeding, have the child in an upright position.
• Avoid second-hand smoke
• Build immunity by getting enough to drink and eating a whole food diet.
• To prevent swim ear, make a 50/50 mix of alcohol and white vinegar to apply in ear after a swim.

Action Step

Take time to learn about otitis media and ways to prevent it from causing pain for your family members.

May God bless your healthful endeavors!

Joni

P.S. Please encourage others by writing about how to prevent ear infections in the comment section.

References:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ear-infections/symptoms-causes/syc-20351616

https://www.parents.com/health/ear-infection/causes-and-treatments-of-ear-infections/

Mommy Diagnostics, by Shonda Parker

Integrative Pediatrics, by Timothy P. Culbert, and Karen Olness