Ear Infection in Children, its Symptoms, Reasons & Treatment

1. Ear Infection in Children, its Symptoms, Reasons & Treatment In 1948, the World Health Organization(WHO) defined health with a phrase that says, "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. With this insight we would want to ask you whether you are healthy. Do you enjoy a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being? Humanity seems to have lost faith on pursuing total health. Today, cowed by numerous health challenges, inspiring oneself towards a healthy lifestyle has become a tough job. Instead our focus is more on how we can function in abnormalities. The general catchphrase in today’s time is how to live with AIDS, malaria, or any other disease. Ear infections sound non-critical but are amongst the commonest reasons for children seeing a doctor on account of health problems. What is an ear infection? An ear infection is an inflammation of the middle ear, usually caused by bacteria. The middle portion is the part responsible for transmitting sound from the eardrum to the inner ear. This middle section discharges a fluid which drains to the back of the throat. When this fluid builds up in the middle ear, it serves as a breeding ground for bacteria and this eventually causes an infection. Types & Common Symptoms of an Ear Infection? Ear infections are mainly 3 types: 1.Acute otitis media (AOM) – commonest form of ear infection. 2.Otitis media with effusion (OME) - happens post an ear infection has run its course. 3.Chronic otitis media with effusion (COME) – The fluid remains in the middle ear for a long time or returns over and over again.

2. An ear infection may begin with a cold or flu or a running nose or cough, followed by fever. This leads the child to constantly touch the ear in order to relieve the discomfort. Other symptoms may be:- ➢Vomiting ➢Unpleasant smell from your child's ear ➢No appetite ➢Inability to hear ➢Trouble falling asleep ➢Fluid draining from the ear Children are more likely than adults to get ear infections due to reasons like immature immune system which makes it harder for children to fight off harmful viruses, bacteria and infections. Another reason is they have smaller Eustachian Tubes. These tubes are responsible for the fluids to drain out of the ear. Due to smaller tubes in children, there is difficulty in draining of the fluid even when the tubes function normally. Treatment of Ear Infection Your doctor might ask you to wait for a day or two to see if the earache goes away. More often than not, the pain disappears within 24 hours, so it does you good to wait at least for a day. If symptoms persist, it is time to contact the doctor. Some doctors prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection. If the infection is mild, pain relievers or drops also help to alleviate the pain. It’s important to make sure your child takes the medicine as prescribed. Metlar Formulations provides quality ear drops and is a well-known ear drops manufacturing company in Chandigarh. Click here for more details.