Fact Checked
An ear infection in toddlers is a painful inflammation of the middle ear. It usually happens between the ear drum and the Eustachian tube, which attaches the nose, ears and the throat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBHwSUikWNo
Ear infections usually are caused by the common cold due to bacteria or viruses. It causes inflammation and swelling of the Eustachian tube. It causes narrowing of the tube and fluids will accumulate behind the eardrum and result to pain and pressure.
Symptoms of an ear infection
- Fever
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Pulling or batting at the ear
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Fluid drains from the ear
- Dizziness
Ear infections usually are caused by the common cold due to bacteria or viruses.
Treatment
- Apply warm and moist compress to the affected ear. Soak a clean face cloth in hot water, wring out excess water. Place the warm cloth over the ear of the child for at least 10-15 minutes to lessen the pain.
- If the affected child is older than 6 months, give the prescribed acetaminophen to relieve of the fever and the pain.
- If there is no fluid coming out of the ear, and the eardrum is not ruptured, place a few drops of slightly heated olive oil or sesame oil into the affected ear to lessen the inflammation.
- Let the child drink plenty of fluids. Swallowing helps in opening the Eustachian tube and for easy drainage of the trapped fluids.
- Mix essential oils such as rosemary, lavender, tea tree and oregano. Mix them well. Massage the external area of the affected ear, face, jaw and neck of the child using these oils to increase blood circulation and for fast drainage of the fluid. Another alternative is placing a few drops of hydrogen peroxide into the affected ear. Let it remain in the area for a few minutes and then drain. Rinse the ear using clean and distilled water.
- Install a humidifier inside the room to counteract the dry indoor air, lessen the swelling of the area, and keep the membranes moist and thin out the mucus present in the Eustachian tubes.
- Take the prescribed vitamin C supplement to lessen the swelling in the ears.
- Elevate the head of the child using pillows when lying down for easy drainage of the fluid.
Tips
- Protect the child from exposure to second hand smoke to prevent making ear infection becoming severe.
- Breastfeed the baby until 12 months if possible, because antibodies present in breast milk protects the child from infections in the ear. If bottled fed, hold the child in a semi-upright position to prevent flowing back of the formula into the Eustachian tubes.
- Maintain a healthy environment. Wash hands frequently and keep germs away from the child.
- The immunization of the child is up-to-date that includes flu vaccination for 6 months and older and pneumococcal vaccines.
FACT CHECK
https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/ear-infection/default.htm
https://www.healthline.com/health/ear-infections
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ear-infections/symptoms-causes/syc-20351616