Ear infections are common in children; in fact, they\u2019re the leading reason kids see a doctor and the number one reason they’re prescribed an antibiotic. In the US, 80% of kids have an ear infection before they turn 3. That proved true in my house\u20142 of my 3 kids had ear infections when they were little! Ear infections cause children and parents many sleepless nights, so many of you want to learn more about them.<\/p>\n
Otitis Externa (OE).<\/strong>\u00a0 This is an infection of the outer ear or ear canal\u2014the opening you can look into from the outside. OE is also called “swimmer’s ear”<\/a> since water can irritate the ear canal and allow bacteria or fungus to grow. Swimmer’s ear infections can cause intense itching, soreness, and pain. It\u2019s generally easy to treat with eardrops, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen for pain.<\/p>\n Otitis Media with Effusion (OME).<\/strong> This is caused by pressure changes in the middle ear due to fluid buildup. This fluid may cause muffled hearing, a sense of fullness in the ears, and mild discomfort, but it doesn\u2019t need antibiotics to clear up. In most cases, all that\u2019s necessary is time for the drainage to improve.<\/p>\n Acute Otitis Media (AOM).<\/strong> This is an infection of the middle ear caused by viruses or bacteria. It can cause pain, a sense of fullness in the ear, and muffled hearing. These are the infections that parents ask most about and prompt more doctor visits than any other infections. Let’s talk more about these.<\/p>\n The middle ear is located behind the eardrum and is connected to the back of the throat by the small eustachian tube. Normally, the middle ear is air-filled, but in otitis media, the space fills up with fluid. This fluid buildup often occurs during colds or allergies. Usually, this fluid drains and doesn’t cause a problem.<\/p>\n Sometimes the middle ear space becomes inflamed and causes an infection. In many cases, they\u2019re caused by the virus that started the cold in the first place. That\u2019s why many (up to 3 out of 4) ear infections can get better on their own. Often, if a child is over 2 years old and doesn\u2019t seem ill, we recommend waiting to see if they get better within 48 to 72 hours without antibiotics. That’s right\u2014 not every ear infection needs an antibiotic!<\/p>\n In general, the rate of ear infections has been decreasing. While you may not be able to prevent all ear infections there are some things you can try.<\/p>\n If you have tried all of these and your child is still getting ear infections, it may be helpful to know that as they grow and their face shape changes, kids are less likely to get them. Children’s eustachian tubes are small and angled in a way that gets blocked more easily, but this changes in older kids and adults. So, time is on your side \u2013 as your child grows, they will probably grow out of ear infections!<\/p>\n American Academy of Pediatrics<\/strong><\/p>\n Your Child and Ear Infections<\/a><\/p>\n My Doctor Online<\/strong><\/p>\nMore information about AOM or ear infections in kids:<\/h3>\n
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Help prevent ear infections by:<\/h3>\n
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Resources For Parents<\/strong><\/h4>\n