Crying, Tugging, Pulling; Could It Be An Ear Infection?
When your child pulls or tugs at their ear, crying and in pain, it’s most likely an ear infection. Five out of 6 kids will experience an ear infection before their first birthday and, in fact, ear infections are one of the most common reasons kids visit Bay Street Pediatrics.
Otitis Media, Middle Ear Infection
While there are several types of ear infections, the most common is Otitis Media, a middle ear infection.
When the Eustachian tube in your child’s middle ear traps fluid infected with a bacteria or virus, the eardrum swells and causes painful pressure. The discomfort worsens when your child lies down for a nap or to sleep at night.
Ear infections are more common when your child is young because their Eustachian tubes are tiny, just 18mm, and positioned horizontally, making drainage of fluids from the ear difficult, increasing the likelihood of infection. As your child grows, the tubes get bigger, up to 35mm in adults, and move to a 45˚ angle, improving drainage.
When your child has a middle ear infection, they may have trouble balancing and walking. Their hearing may be muffled and they may not respond to sounds. Because the pain increases when lying down, your child may have difficulty sleeping. They might also run a fever over 100° F.
Sometimes, your child may have an effusion, non-infected fluid in the ear, after a cold or sore throat. We may treat the effusion with over-the-counter nasal spray and monitor your child to make sure an infection does not develop.
If you see drainage other than ear wax from your child’s ear, call our office immediately. Your child will need to be examined to determine if an eardrum has ruptured. This can be treated to heal completely.
Will My Child Get Antibiotics?
infants younger than 6 months of age are almost always treated with antibiotics for middle ear infections.
Because some middle ear infections are caused by viruses and will resolve on their own without antibiotics, when your child is over 6 months old, your Bay Street Pediatrics provider may ask you to monitor your child at home for several days before we prescribe antibiotics.
Never use oil, especially a hot oil, as this can permanently damage the eardrum.
Give your child the appropriate and recommended doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen for treating pain or fever. If your child runs a fever for more than two days, call our office at 203-227-3674 or message us through your patient portal.
My Child Gets Ear Infections All The Time!
Your Bay Street Pediatrics provider may diagnose chronic ear infections if your child:
- Has three or more ear infections in 3 months
- Has four or more infections within a year
- Does not respond to antibiotics
- Has a hearing loss
- Has a tear or hole in the eardrum
Chronic ear infections can cause delays in speech development and social skills because of hearing loss. We may refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) to discuss ear “tubes.” These tiny tubes are surgically inserted into the tympanic membrane, or eardrum, of the ears, allowing air into the middle ear to stabilize air pressure and drain fluid.
How Can I Prevent Ear Infections?
Ear infections can’t be prevented entirely, but there are steps you can take to minimize your child’s risk. Never put infants and toddlers to bed with a bottle, as this increases the risk for middle ear infections. When your child is congested, use a saline nasal spray and nasal aspirator or bulb to help release and clean the nose. Encourage older child to blow their nose frequently when they have a runny nose or congestion.
There is good news about ear infections! Children typically outgrow these infections by their fifth birthday.