Symptoms & Signs
There are a few different symptoms to look for if you believe your child is suffering from an ear infection. You may not even notice these, as signs of an ear infection are subtle in young children. The symptoms are:
- Pulling or tugging at the ear
- Holding the ear or scratching it
- Irritability
- Drainage from the ear that is thick and yellow
- Fever
- Ear Pain
- Trouble sleeping
- Trouble hearing
- Loss of appetite
Solutions & Options
There are some things that you can do to avoid an ear infection in children. These are called preventive measures. You should keep the child away from areas where there is a lot of cigarette smoke, and you should not smoke around your child. You can also prevent an ear infection by avoiding exposure to germs. Do not spend a prolonged period of time around a sick person, and always wash yours and your child’s hands.
There are two different way to approach treating an ear infection. Home treatment for an ear infection involves over the counter medication, such as Tylenol or Advil, to relieve the pain and decrease swelling. If you give a baby or small child these types of medicines, consult your doctor for the recommended dosage. If the symptoms persist, or the child develops a fever, you should consult a doctor.
Medical treatment for ear infections typically involves prescription antibiotics. If there is a risk of the child developing more serious complications, or if the child is extremely sick, the doctor may have to perform additional tests and treatment. In cases where the child has continuous ear infections, surgery may be performed to insert tubes into the ear to drain the fluid.
