An infection (say: in-fek-shun) happens when germs like
bacteria and viruses get inside the body and cause trouble. Germs can get into
your ears. The ear is divided into three parts: outer, middle, and inner. When
the germs bother your outer ear, it's called swimmer's ear.
The middle ear is a small pocket of air behind the
eardrum. You have a middle ear infection when germs get into the middle ear and
the area fills up with fluid (or pus), which contains germ-fighting cells. When
the pus builds up, your ear starts to feel like a balloon that is ready to pop,
which can really hurt.
Between your middle ear and your throat there is a
passage called the eustachian (say: yoo-stay-she-un) tube. The eustachian tubes
(you have one on each side) keep pressure from building up by letting air move
in and out of your middle ear. When you were young, especially before you
turned 3, the eustachian tubes were very small and less able to keep germs out.
The eustachian tubes get longer and usually work better
in older kids, but they can still cause problems. If you have allergies or
catch a cold, the eustachian tubes can get blocked up and let germs get in the
middle ear. Then the number of germs can grow inside your middle ear and cause
an infection.
You do not catch ear infections from other people, though
you might catch a cold that then leads to an ear infection. If you have an ear
infection, you might have ear pain, a fever, or trouble hearing. If you have
any of these problems, tell your parent so he or she can take you to the
doctor.
The doctor will look into your ear with a special
flashlight called an otoscope. With the otoscope, the doctor can see your
eardrum, the thin membrane between your outer and middle ear.
The doctor may use the otoscope to blow a little puff of
air in your ear. Why? To see if the air causes your eardrum to move the way a
healthy eardrum does. An infected eardrum won't move as it should because the
pus presses against it and may make it bulge. An infection also can make the eardrum
red.
If you have an ear infection, the doctor will make a
decision about what to do next. He or she might ask your parent to watch you
over the next day or two to see if you get any better. The doctor also might
suggest a pain reliever to keep you comfortable.
If bacteria are causing the problem, the doctor might
prescribe a medicine called an antibiotic, which usually clears up a bacterial
infection, so you'll feel better in a few days.
If you are given an antiobiotic, it's very important to
keep taking the medicine for as many days as the doctor instructs — even if
your ear stops hurting. If you don't take all the medicine, the infection could
come back and your ear will start hurting again.
A kid who has chronic, or frequent, ear infections might
need a few other tests. They include an audiogram, which tests your hearing, a
machine that checks whether your eardrum moves normally.
You can avoid places where people are smoking, for one.
Cigarette smoke can keep your eustachian tubes from working properly.
You also can try not to catch colds. These steps can
help:
•Stay away from
people who have colds, if possible.
•Wash your
hands regularly.
•Try not to
touch your nose and eyes.
Viral infections are more complicated to treat and may
necessitate a myringotomy, which is a minor surgery in which a small plastic
tube is inserted into the eardrum. This acts as a vent to relieve the pressure
of the buildup or infection. It also drains the fluid remaining in the ear.
This little tube is not permanent; it falls out automatically after a short
time.
•If you think
your child has had too many ear infections, then ask your Pediatrician for a
referral to a Pediatric ENT specialist to discuss if ear tubes would be
appropriate.
•On the other
hand, if your Pediatrician recommends tubes but you are hesitant to have
surgery, then ask if it would be appropriate to wait a little longer.
•If your child
is diagnosed with an ear infection, is put on antibiotics and is still having
pain and fever a week later, that technically still counts as the same ear
infection. And keep in mind that they can then have fluid in their ears for 2
to 3 months, which is often misdiagnosed as an ear infection. If you go back
for a recheck and your child has no symptoms at all, but your are told he has
an ear infection, you might get a second opinion from a Pediatric ENT
specialist to see if it is just fluid.
•Although some
children have complications after getting tubes, such as blockage, drainage
(otorrhea), granulomas, cholesteatomas, tympanic membrane perforation, and
having the tubes fall out early, numerous studies have shown improved quality
of life outcomes for children after getting tubes.
•Take some
steps to control the things that put kids at risk for ear infections, such as
breast feeding as long as possible, and not exposing them to second hand smoke,
letting them sleep with a pacifier, or letting them lay down while drinking a
bottle.
