Young children having ear problems are extremely common. Here are the main symptoms of earache and lack of hearing.
Ear pain can be very distressing for your child and is a typical reason for children suddenly waking through the night. Infections, which often occur suddenly and frequently as a result of a chilly, in many cases are the cause of ear pain, but other issues can also be at fault:
Ear wax: Some youngsters have problems with excessive ear wax, which may be brought on by narrow ear canals or frequent exposure of the ears to water, although often no specific underlying cause exists. Ear wax can block the outer ear canal and occasionally result in inflammation or infection.
Regularly using softening ear drops for example olive oil - offered by your pharmacist in a dropper bottle - can help. If this approach fails, you may need to arrange for your child's ear to be cleared using suction or another methods - contact your doctor.
Foreign body: Young youngsters are notorious for putting objects into any cavity possible - ears and noses are extremely popular! Anything goes - from peas and berries to small toys. Unless you can easily get your hands on the object, don't remove it yourself but leave the task to some health professional, to prevent causing any harm to the ear canal.
Infection of the middle ear: This problem, also known as otitis media, can result from an infection that spreads from your child's throat to the ear via a ventilation canal called the eustachian tube. Your child often has an accompanying fever and feels unwell. Giving paracetamol or ibuprofen can help to make your child feel better. When the pain suddenly improves and you then notice a thick discharge from your child's ear, the eardrum has likely ruptured. See your doctor, who's likely to prescribe antibiotics to help the rupture to heal after a few weeks.
Infection of the outer ear: This condition, also called otitis externa, can occur if your child's ear continues to be subjected to a lot of water (for example, from swimming). Your child's ear is itchy, with any pain getting worse whenever you pull gently in the earlobe; you may also notice a discharge. Your practice nurse or doctor can prescribe antibiotic and antiinflammatory ear drops if appropriate, after assessment.
Insects: Sometimes, small insects can make their distance to your child's outer ear (I'm squirming when i write this!). Try floating the small invader out with a bit of tepid water. Alternatively, get your child to lie on his back in a shower together with his ears under water while you gently pull the earlobe from the affected ear upwards and backwards to straighten the ear canal. If the tactic fails, seek help from your doctor or the local A&E department.
Pressure trauma: If your child suffers from ear pain during flights in an aircraft, barotrauma - due to a mismatch in pressures between your middle and outer ear - may be responsible. Barotrauma is particularly likely when your child has a cold or blocked nose, in which case avoiding air travel might be best. You can give paracetamol to relieve any pain.
To avoid barotrauma, give babies a bottle or breastfeed during take-off and landing. Older children are usually happy to suck on a sweet for the same effect! Symptoms often improve quickly in a few hours or days, but see your doctor if symptoms don't settle or you're worried for some other reasons.
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Note: This article was sent to us by: Colleen Francis at 03122011
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