Does Your Child Scratch Your Ears Often? Beware of Ear Infection in Infants

It is no exaggeration to say that the immunity of infants and children is not yet fully formed. This is why ear infections in babies are very likely to occur in children under three years.

During this period, they are for the first time "familiar" with germs and do not have a strong immune shield. This is why infections such as those that occur in the ear often occur.

Fever is one of the most common symptoms of ear infection in babies. When fluid comes out of the middle ear, a virus or bacteria can cause an infection that causes redness of the eardrum.
What are the characteristics of ear infections in infants?

Unlike a rash or flu in infants whose symptoms can be detected clearly, ear infections in babies who are missed are sometimes detected. However, parents should always be aware of the possibility of ear infections in their babies.

Infants and children under the age of three are susceptible to ear infections due to reasons other than immune factors, especially because their Eustachian (burrow) tubes have a more horizontal shape.

As a result, the fluid tends to settle instead of coming out of the ear. The following symptoms of ear infections in infants:

Sometimes he appears with a fever
Earache
Clear or yellowish discharge from the ear
Scaly skin in the area outside the ear
Sleep is not good
Children often scratch their ears
Cannot hear clearly
Lack of appetite
vomit
Diarrhea

Of course, other symptoms, sometimes the child becomes more difficult and more difficult. It happened because they felt very uncomfortable.
How to treat ear infections in infants?
In general, ear infections in infants only last for about three days. To treat infections, it may be necessary to administer antibiotics to prevent the spread of infection.

However, doctors will not immediately prescribe antibiotics for babies under one year. Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics only if the diagnosis is appropriate and if the child's age is more than two years.

But keep in mind that sometimes antibiotics are unnecessary because, in many cases, the baby's immune system can slowly overcome this infection by itself. Parents must be patient while observing the condition of their children.

Here are other ways to treat ear infections in babies:

Hot water compress

You can use warm compresses on the baby's ear to help ease the pain.

Fluid intake

Make sure you give the children enough fluids to swallow. This method can help dry the middle ear and reduce more pressure on the ear.

breastfeeding

For babies who continue to breastfeed directly, increase the frequency of breastfeeding so that their immunity continues to increase. In addition, breastfeeding can make a baby comfortable.
How to prevent?

The main way to prevent ear infections in infants is to make sure the environment is always clean. Always wash your hands before handling the baby to avoid exposure to germs.

In addition, also avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, which can increase the risk of ear infections in babies.

Then, administering a vaccine such as the flu can also prevent ear infections, usually associated with flu or cold symptoms.

The US National Institutes of Health prove children who are vaccinated are less likely to have ear infections