Dealing With Ear Infections: What You Can Do And How To Prevent Them

Health & Medical Blog

Ear infections can be extremely painful, and if you have a young child, he may not be able to tell you what's wrong. If your child has an ear infection, there are some symptoms you can watch for. If your child is getting ear infections often, there are ways to help prevent them. Read on for some helpful tips to help prevent ear infections, as well as symptoms to watch out for.

Symptoms Of Ear Infections

Your child may be able to tell you that his ear hurts, but what do you do when your child cannot tell you this information? Watch for the following symptoms.

• Redness Or Tenderness Of The Ear. If your child's ears are bright red and hot to the touch, or if your child is crying anytime anything touches his ear, it could be the sign of an infection. 
• Pulling On The Ear. If your child is pulling on his ear, pushing on his ear or tilting his head to one side, it could be the sign of an infection. Your child may feel more comfortable tilting his head, as fluid may be draining.
• Crying Excessively. Excessive crying that isn't ordinary for your child, especially at night when fluid is draining, it could be the sign of an infection.
• Fluid Leaking From The Ear. If you have spotted fluid leaking from the ear, it could be the sign of an infection. This is the infection draining out and could be a severe infection.

If you notice any of these signs in your child, get your child to their physician right away, or to an urgent care facility to be checked out and to receive treatment. 

Preventing Ear Infections

Ear infections cannot always be prevented, but there are things you can do to reduce the risk of ear infections.

• Stop Smoking. Secondhand smoking around your child can increase their chances of ear infections, as well as other health risks. If you smoke around your child, stop.
• Use A Humidifier. If your child gets ear infections more in the winter months when the air is dry, run a humidifier to help clear up sinuses. A humidifier can also help with colds and the flue in winter months as well.
• Prop Up When Sleeping. Keep your child propped up when sleeping at night to prevent the sinuses from draining into the ears. Prop your child up by placing a pillow beneath the mattress, or giving your child another pillow to sleep with (only for older children that can sleep with a pillow).
• Eat And Drink Healthy. If your child is eating and drinking a healthy diet, it can prevent illness, as the body is healthy enough to fight off infections.

Ear infections can be difficult to deal with. If you think your child has an ear infection, take your child to an urgent care clinic to be treated to prevent it from worsening and to ease your child's pain. 

29 April 2018