Many parents wish they could take the suffering away from their children when they hold their ears in pain and cry bitterly. Many children have to struggle with a middle ear infection; unfortunately, there is no way to prevent it.
What do the numbers look like?
To reassure all parents: almost every child goes through at least once in their childhood a middle ear infection. According to statistics, one in four babies even experiences a middle ear infection by the age of 6 months. By their 3rd birthday, around 90% of all children have had 1-3 middle ear infections – yet medical professionals often argue about the correct course of treatment.
Which children are more frequently affected?
Middle ear infections can certainly be hereditary, as the anatomical conditions in the ear can be passed on from parents to children. According to medical opinion, boys even suffer from middle ear infections more frequently than girls.
Of course, children who attend a crèche or kindergarten have a higher risk of infection. The earlier a child enters group care, the sooner they can catch a middle ear infection. However, increased contact with other children leads not only to ear infections but also to many other infections and respiratory diseases – no child is immune to this.
How does a middle ear infection develop?
At the beginning, there is, of course, the illness. A viral infection is often the decisive factor for further clinical pictures. A small cold can quickly turn into tonsillitis or a slight cough can affect the ears.
Viruses like to settle in the area of the mucous membranes in the mouth and nose. In doing so, they pave their way to the ear. But the swelling of polyps or adenoids, which narrow the exit of the Eustachian tube to the throat, also prevents even ventilation of the middle ear, leaving viruses and bacteria free to act.
In the space behind the eardrum – the tympanic cavity – fluid now accumulates due to the lack of ventilation. This cannot drain off regularly and pus forms. When swallowing, there is no pressure equalization, and the child feels pain that can be stabbing, biting, or throbbing.
When should you see a doctor?
Babies often have a high fever (though this is not the rule), scream or cry a lot, rub their ears, do not sleep through the night, and are restless.
Small self-help test: Do you suspect your child has a middle ear infection? Then press gently and with little pressure on the ear – if your child reacts to this, a visit to the pediatrician is unavoidable.
An acute middle ear infection is then presented to the doctor, who can quickly diagnose it during the examination. All too often, parents are prescribed an antibiotic as help. Unjustifiably, as we know today. Because whether the antibiotic is really necessary and helpful has not been proven by any studies so far.
Instead, a better solution is to receive ear drops or (even more sensibly) nasal drops. The ear drops help with decongestion, and the nasal drops improve the ventilation of the middle ear.
In addition, a hot water bottle, a onion sachet and a red light lamp for the ear can provide relief.
Note: If a bacterial infection is suspected, the administration of antibiotics is of course advisable – however, the severity of the illness must be determined by a medical professional. For example, a bilateral middle ear infection with ear discharge is a clear case for the use of antibiotics.
Why do doctors continue to prescribe antibiotics?
That is a legitimate question that many medical professionals cannot understand or answer. Many years ago, antibiotics were considered a panacea – but this has changed decisively in recent years.
The doctor cannot immediately recognize whether the illness was caused by viruses or bacteria. A quick test as well as in-depth examinations often provide more insight into the culprits. Antibiotics only help with bacteria, but are ineffective against viruses.
Furthermore, a middle ear infection heals without complications in most cases. Usually, the ordeal is over within 2 days to a week.
Photo by Janine, meinhaushalt.at
Read also: Home Remedies – Onion for earache
