The First Ear Infection

So, we've done pretty well...the first ear infection at 11 1/2 months old.  Not too bad. Aside from the common cold, ear infections are the second highest diagnosis in children in the United States.  Research states that 3 out of 4 kids will have had at least one ear infection by the time they are 3 years old.

As a speech language pathologist, I had to take a course in Anatomy where we studies the brain, ear, mouth, and throat.  Yes, I had to memorize and draw all of these babies.  If you ask me today, can I draw them?  Heck no!  I refer to my trusty diagrams all of the time and use them as handouts for parents.  Here is a diagram of your ear in case you are interested.

This is what the ear normally looks like.  Here is an comparison of a normal middle ear and one that has an infection.

Kids develop ear infections more frequently in the first 2 to 4 years of life for many reasons:

• Their eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal than those of adults, which allows bacteria and viruses to find their way into the middle ear more easily. Their tubes are also narrower and less stiff, which makes them more prone to blockage.
• The adenoids, which are gland-like structures located in the back of the upper throat near the eustachian tubes, are large in children and can interfere with the opening of the eustachian tubes.

A number of other factors can contribute to kids getting ear infections, such as exposure to cigarette smoke, bottle-feeding, and day-care attendance.  Ear infections also occur more commonly in boys than girls, in kids whose families have a history of ear infections, and during the winter season when upper respiratory tract infections or colds are frequent.

How do you know if your child has an ear infection?  Here are some things to look for:

• The fluid in the middle ear may push on the eardrum, causing ear pain. An older child may complain of an earache, but a younger child may tug at the ear or simply act irritable and cry more than usual.
• Lying down, chewing, and sucking can also cause painful pressure changes in the middle ear, so a child may eat less than normal or have trouble sleeping.
• If the pressure from the fluid buildup is high enough, it can cause the eardrum to rupture, resulting in drainage of fluid from the ear. This releases the pressure behind the eardrum, usually bringing relief from the pain.

In Griffin's case, we really had no idea.  We thought he had the common cold because he was not exhibiting any of these symptoms.  This was his disposition the night before we took him to the doctor.

Yeah - this kid had an ear infection?!?  

Many people think that ear infections are contagious.  However, they are not contagious, though a cold that may lead to one can be contagious.

Middle ear infections often go away on their own within 2 or 3 days, even without any specific treatment. If your doctor decides to prescribe antibiotics, a 10-day course is usually recommended.  When we visited our pediatrician, Griffin was diagnosed with an ear infection in his right ear and fluid was present in his left ear.  He also presented with a very runny nose and thick congestion.  Griffin was prescribed a 10-day course of antibiotics and ear drops for any ear pain or discomfort.  He was also given a nasal spray for the congestion to be used after being on the antibiotic for a couple of days if nasal congestion was still present.  Our pediatrician does not prescribe decongestants for babies because he says that research supports that they are not effective in babies. He also recommended Baby Vicks Rub, the humidifier, and ibuprofin because Griffin has many teeth coming in which could add to his discomfort.  The antibiotics took effect very quickly.  We've only been using the ear drops at night.  He continues to exhibit congestion, so we will use the nasal spray this evening.

As my husband and I were getting Griffin ready for bed last night, I thought about all of the effort that goes into his normal bedroom routine even when he's not sick -- bath, special lotions for body and face, saline nose drops, combing hair, diaper change, story time....it can be exhausting!  It made me think about how some children don't get this kind of care due to poor home situations or uneducated parents.  Give all of your sweet kiddos extra hugs tonight!  They are lucky to have such great parents!