Why does a child touch his ears? Every parent asked himself this question. It occurs especially clearly when the child is very small and does not know how to speak. Parents can only guess. And in order not to guess “from the tea leaves,” you need to contact your pediatrician with this question. He will recommend a series of studies to identify the main cause of the child's anxiety in the ear area.
There are a huge number of reasons for the occurrence of pathologies in the ear zone of children - from a small object getting into the ear, ending with otitis media. different degrees in the outer, middle and even inner parts of the ear system. The latter type of disease is extremely rare and is associated with the transmission of infection through the blood and through lymphatic system. Other types of diseases are often diagnosed in young patients. According to statistics, pathologies in the ears of children more often occur after or during colds. Ear diseases are more common in children with low immunity, rickets, after illnesses, etc.
Fungal otitis media
One of the types of otitis is. Caused by the presence of fungus in the baby's body. This is an acquired disease. This type infections can be transmitted both through the outer ear and by fungus entering the sinuses, for example, when rinsing the nose with a runny nose. Also, the fungus can be carried into the middle ear by incorrect medical manipulations. The main causes of fungal otitis media include:
- prolonged illness of the baby;
- active drug treatment;
- injuries;
- small objects getting into the ear, etc.
The disease can occur when the microflora of the child’s body is disrupted, which can be caused by any reasons:
- mechanical;
- physical;
- chemical;
- thermal.
Allergic reaction
Most often, ear diseases plague children with allergies. Allergies are the occurrence of pathogenic microflora in the body. And as it develops, it affects not only the external skin, but can also spread to all the mucous membranes of the child’s organs. Then harmful microflora enters the child’s middle ear, causing damage to organs and tissues. Moreover, no infection is observed during diagnosis. And the child constantly fiddles with his ears and feels restless. The causes of such otitis in most cases are hereditary. But they can also be acquired due to:
- difficult childbirth;
- poor environment;
- weak immune system of the baby.
Other reasons
Pathologies in the ear area most often occur in children:
- having anemia;
- underweight;
- having adenoids in the nasopharynx;
- suffering various diseases throat or nose.
Whatever the cause of ear discomfort in a child, it is necessary to go to the doctor to get the necessary advice and, if necessary, prescriptions for treatment.
Doctors explain frequent ear diseases in children under 5 years of age due to a horizontal arrangement eustachian tube. Essentially, this auditory canal performs protective function middle ear and prevents a huge number of diseases of the ear area. But in horizontal position auditory tube allows harmful organisms to easily enter and spread in the ear area. Then it changes position and goes into a vertical state. creating a natural barrier for germs, viruses, bacteria.
Therefore, ear pathology in young children can easily be provoked by:
- overheating or hypothermia;
- when taking a bath;
- strong gusty wind, etc.
Associated symptoms
Why else would a child pick at his ears? Parents will not know until they determine from a doctor what the symptoms are that are bothering the baby. Maybe it's not only:
All of a sudden Small child experiences:
- heaviness in the head;
- headache, etc.
All these are symptoms serious illnesses ear system, which can only be diagnosed by a specialist.
In addition, the doctor determines whether there is discharge from the ears - this is also one of the accompanying symptoms.
Should I see a doctor?
Just watching a child fiddle with his ears and wondering what’s wrong with him is not worth it. The doctor will help determine the nature and cause of the disease, identify the main causative agent of inflammation, and learn about existing concomitant diseases and thus make an accurate diagnosis. And the correct diagnosis is already half the success further treatment baby.
If parents are in no hurry to see a doctor, they expose their baby to the risk of serious ear diseases, even deafness.
Treatment
After a thorough and careful diagnosis, the child may be prescribed medications that will help relieve him of pathology in the ear area.
Fungal otitis
Treatment of fungal otitis is aimed at destroying the pathogenic fungus. To do this, the doctor must choose the most optimal medication option, which:
- will not additionally disrupt the child’s microflora;
- will remove fungi from the body as much as possible;
- will not negatively affect immune system baby.
If necessary, the doctor will prescribe vitamins, if additional infection – antibacterial drugs. The doctor will try to avoid antibiotic treatment as much as possible, but if this is not possible due to the development of the disease, then antibiotic therapy will be prescribed - both internally and externally. Intramuscular or intravenous injections are also possible.
But on the first day of your appointment, the doctor will rinse auricle child with antifungal agents.
Allergies
In case of allergies, it is aimed at combating allergic reactions. The doctor determines the child’s diet, necessary vitamins and medications to improve immunity. If allergic otitis media occurs due to bronchial asthma, then you should exclude the main allergen. It can be pet hair, dust, smoke, etc. Treatment of such children is carried out mainly with antiallergic drugs and diet therapy. If the allergy affects the outer ear, then ointments, gels, and drops are prescribed for external use.
Traditional treatment
How additional therapy the doctor can advise folk remedies: herbs, propolis, sunbathing, etc. Often the doctor recommends teas based on herbs that have antiseptic properties:
- St. John's wort;
- aloe, etc.
It is not recommended to give these decoctions, teas and infusions to your child yourself.
Prevention
Seeing a doctor on time is the key to your child’s health. It is no coincidence that during the first year of your baby’s life you constantly go to the pediatrician, who, after a thorough examination of the child, can promptly identify abnormalities. Then he will refer you to a more specialized specialist to undergo a diagnosis and find out if there is any reason to worry. Don't skip visiting the doctor. And if you see that something is bothering your child, then immediately go to the clinic for consultations. If the baby is healthy, then maintain this health.
What bothers the child? How can one interpret certain of his gestures and actions? Maybe this means something? Parents of infants have asked themselves these questions more than once. After all, a child under the age of one year will not be able to clearly explain to you what is bothering him, but he will be able to show it.
Reasons interest there may be several to the ears of a small growing man. Firstly, it could be new part body, which the baby discovered and is studying with pleasure. This reason should not cause concern to parents; it is just a developmental stage. Soon the child’s interest in the ear will disappear and perhaps switch to another part of the body or surrounding objects. Also, many children begin to fiddle with their ears and rub their eyes when they want to sleep. This serves as a signal for calmer communication and games with the child for further transition to sleep.
The most unfavorable reason increased The child's interest in the ear may be due to conditions and diseases that cause him concern. Teeth cutting, a child with a sore throat, or lymphadenitis may manifest an increased interest in the ear area. The child will constantly touch the parotid area and fiddle with the ear. Sometimes foreign bodies outdoor ear canal may cause distress to the child. It could be sulfur plug or a piece of cotton wool accidentally left in the toilet of the external auditory canal. Change general condition- an increase in temperature, anxiety, and crying of a child should alert parents and be a reason to consult a doctor.
Most common reason increased interest to the ear - Ear ache, which is caused by otitis media ( inflammatory disease middle or outer ear). From the age of four months, a child tries to reach the sore ear or rub it on the pillow. Ear diseases in young children are quite common. This can be explained by the structural features of the nasopharynx and auditory tube, which is a natural connection between the middle ear cavity and external environment. In infants, the Eustachian tube is short and wide, located in the same horizontal plane with the nasopharynx. All these factors contribute to the rapid penetration of microorganisms into the middle ear cavity. Also, the constant horizontal position of the baby contributes to the possible entry of mucus from the nasopharynx into the auditory tube.
What other signs otitis Should the child's mother be alerted? This is the child's anxiety, continuous crying, inability to calm down, the child sucks the breast worse, the temperature rises, the baby holds his ear, scratches it, rubs his head on the pillow, pressing his sore ear, falls asleep better.
Severe form of otitis in children breast age may be accompanied by phenomena - throwing back the head, protrusion of the fontanelles, tension in the arms and legs. Sometimes there may be gastrointestinal disorders in the form of vomiting and diarrhea. Ear discharge is one of the clear signs diseases, however eardrum in children it is thicker than in adults, therefore perforations and, as a result, suppuration are rare in practice.
When a child has the above-mentioned symptoms You should immediately consult a doctor and not self-medicate. As a rule, a local pediatrician is called to your home, who may suspect otitis and recommend a consultation with an ENT doctor. The final diagnosis is made by an otolaryngologist based on characteristic features disease and a mandatory examination of the eardrum - otoscopy and prescribes appropriate treatment.
What are the precautions? should follow to reduce the risk of otitis media in a child infancy? It is necessary to preserve it for as long as possible breast-feeding for the baby, as a source of protective forces for the growing body. When feeding, it is better to hold the baby more upright, this will reduce the risk of fluid reflux into the ear through the auditory tube. If your baby has a cold, it is important to remember that in the lying position, mucus stagnation forms in the nasopharynx and the risk of infection entering the middle ear cavity increases. Here an aspirator will come to your aid to remove pathological contents from the nasal cavity and changing the position of the baby, turning from one side to the other will reduce the likelihood of mucus stagnation.
Thus, your baby’s seemingly harmless interest in his ears can be the cause of many diseases. Every mother should know this.
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If a baby frantically scratches and fiddles with his ears, this cannot go unnoticed by his parents. And if this happens rarely, then special reasons There is no reason to worry, but if the baby does this constantly, and, worse, scratches his ears until they bleed, then the problem is obvious. Only the reasons for such strange behavior remain hidden. We will try to understand them within the framework of this article.
When does this happen?
The baby cannot tell his parents what exactly is bothering him, but he tries in every possible way to draw attention to his well-being. And the reason may not be in the ears at all. Kids are quite inquisitive and love to learn. own body. A child may fiddle with his ears simply out of curiosity, touch and explore them.
But things are not always so harmless. Most often, a child scratches his ears because he has discomfort or mild painful sensations in the hearing organs or somewhere nearby, because it is still difficult for a child to understand exactly where to scratch if it itches. Acute pain usually does not cause the urge to scratch sore spot, and touching causes very unpleasant sensations. But long-term, sluggish irritation may well become a reason for such behavior. Let's look at possible pathological and physiological reasons that may be present.
Possible reasons
The desire to comb the ears arises in a child for the following reasons:
- Poor hygiene. If a child is rarely bathed, then the reason why he picks at his ears may lie in banal contamination of the ears and the folds of skin behind them. Excessive accumulated earwax can also cause discomfort. Parents can cope with this problem on their own, without turning to a pediatrician for help.
If you have similar symptoms, you should immediately contact a pediatrician, or better yet, an infectious disease specialist, if there is such a doctor in the clinic.
- Otitis. Itching and itching can only be otitis externa, it is easily recognized by inflammation of the auricle. Abscesses and boils appear quite often. Otitis media does not itch, but hurts. However, a newborn and infant cannot clearly communicate this and simply rubs their ear, not understanding where and what is going wrong. You can suspect otitis media from the characteristic discharge from the ear. They may be clear, yellowish or purulent. If you lightly press your fingers on the tragus (a small cartilage located right at the entrance to the ear canal), the pain intensifies, and the baby begins to worry and cry.
You should immediately contact a pediatrician or otolaryngologist.
- Otomycosis. Fungal infection of the hearing organs causes itching and a lot of unpleasant impressions. It is noteworthy that this pathology develops for a very long time, gradually and almost imperceptibly. At first there is a slight itching, then it grows. The baby will scratch his ear in fits and starts as the itching sensation appears. There is practically no pain with otomycosis. It is very difficult to suspect such a disease. Parents may be alerted to slight swelling in the area of the ear canal, sometimes whitish discharge (not always), as well as a possible decrease in hearing acuity, with which the baby will respond to a constant feeling of congestion. Otomycosis can only be diagnosed using laboratory diagnostics, a microscopic examination that will detect fungi. You will have to be treated by an infectious disease specialist and an otolaryngologist.
- Psoriasis. Psoriasis also causes itching and an unpleasant burning sensation in a child if it develops in the ear area. Both the auricle and the middle ear area can be affected by seborrheic psoriasis. With this disease, a red rash first appears. With her appearance, the child begins to scratch his ear. Then severe peeling appears, the skin may acquire a whitish tint, and the epidermal scales separate very easily. If such a pathology is suspected, the child is taken to an appointment with a dermatologist and ENT doctor.
- Allergy. An allergic reaction may well cause itching in the ear. Usually, the skin is practically unchanged, sometimes slight swelling may be observed. It all depends on what type of allergic reaction began to develop. If it caused allergic otitis, then there will be no discharge from the ear, as with otitis vulgaris. But pressure on the tragus will show that the cause is, after all, inflammation of the middle ear.
If the allergy manifests itself as dermatitis, then the symptoms are unlikely to affect only the hearing organs. Skin rashes are sure to be found in other parts of the body. If you suspect an allergic reaction, you should contact your pediatrician, allergist and ENT specialist.
- Insect bites. If a child is bitten by a mosquito or other insect, the itching in the area of the bite will not be particularly long-lasting. True, a child may start scratching his ear in his sleep, because insect bites not only itch on their own, but also cause local inflammation and sometimes a slight allergic reaction. Parents can easily cope with this problem on their own without going to the doctor. If it is possible to find a bite, it is smeared " Fenistil" Even without this, the bite will not bother the baby for a long time, and after a couple of days the child will stop scratching his ear.
- Foreign object. If a child has something foreign in his ear, then it will quite reasonably bother him. If the parents managed to see the foreign body, then they can get it out using small tweezers and on their own. But if the object is located deep, in order to avoid injury to the hearing organs, it is better to seek help from an otolaryngologist, who, using special tools, will be able to remove the object without pain or risk of injury.
How to examine a child?
If a child begins to scratch his ears, then it is necessary to conduct a first home examination. First, the child's temperature is measured. Fever usually characteristic of otitis, teething, inflammatory process in the hearing organs.
Then you need to examine the auricle. To do this, you should use a small household flashlight. First, the condition of the auricle is assessed - size, presence of swelling, rash, ulcers, peeling. If nothing is found, You should inspect the ear canal with a flashlight.
Accumulation of earwax, discharge from the ear, a foreign body in the ear canal, as well as insect bites in most cases can be seen by everyone, even parents who are not medically savvy. After examination, a test for otitis media is performed by lightly pressing on the tragus. If there is no response to pressing, it is worth considering other reasons.
Undress the child and inspect the skin for rashes and possible manifestations allergies. If the temperature is normal, the ear is visually healthy, and does not hurt, then it is worth observing the child, in what situations and how he scratches his ear; perhaps the reasons lie elsewhere.
If no obvious cause is found
If no pathology is detected, then it is worth considering other reasons why a baby, theoretically and practically, can start scratching his ear:
- Obsessive movement syndrome. If the child is already a year old or more, then he may scratch his ears for psychological and neurological reasons. This may be a consequence of severe stress that the baby has experienced. Sometimes we are talking about the so-called syndrome obsessive movements. In this case, parents may notice that the child does not always begin to scratch his ears, but in a strictly certain situations associated with excitement and experiences. Yes, on physical level The little one is trying to sublimate his accumulated nervous tension. You should consult a neurologist, child psychologist and a child psychiatrist.
- Teeth. Unpleasant and obsessive itching in the gum area can also make the child want to scratch his ear. This usually happens when the baby is 5-6 months old and older, when the period of teething begins. This version can be confirmed by swollen gums on the side on which the child is fiddling with the ear. With absence pathological symptoms from the ears, it is worth considering this version of what is happening.
- Hunger or tiredness. It is very difficult, from a medical point of view, to explain why a child scratches his ears when he wants to sleep or eat. But the fact remains that very often young children react this way to fatigue and hunger. They not only rub their eyes and nose, but also fiddle with their ears.
If, after the child was fed heartily, given water and put to bed, he stopped scratching his ear, then, probably, the parents were able to unravel the secret “signals” of the little man.
To learn how to properly clean the ears of a child and an adult, watch the following video.
A baby in the first months of life, due to a temporary lack of ability to speak, intuitively shows his parents what and where is bothering him. The child pulls or scratches his ears various reasons: attentiveness, patience and independent examination of the baby will help parents determine the prerequisites for such behavior and decide on further tactics of action.
Causes of itching in the ears of a small child
If the baby, when scratching or rubbing his ear, calms down in his mother’s arms or is easily distracted from his activity, then the reasons that caused the discomfort can be eliminated without going to the clinic. Otherwise, consultation with a pediatrician is required. The prerequisites for this will be:
- prolonged crying of the baby, including when swallowing food or milk - more than 3-6 hours;
- refusal to lie on your side with an itchy ear;
- temperature increase;
- bloody wounds from scratching around or behind the ear, scabs;
- obstruction of examination of the auricle - the baby is spinning and crying a lot;
- bad smell from the auricle, purulent discharge;
- decreased appetite and sleep quality;
- small objects caught inside the ear canal.
If there is an unpleasant odor coming from the auricle and/or you find purulent discharge, an ENT examination should be arranged as soon as possible Diseases that cause itching
If your baby's ears are constantly itching, this may be a symptom of serious diseases:
- otitis, including its purulent form - the most dangerous disease which, without proper therapy, causes hearing complications;
- allergies - when the baby scratches not only his ears, but also his face, a runny nose suddenly appears;
- skin fungus, which appears when the hygiene of the child’s body and the room in which he lives is violated;
- eczema – rare;
- lice, when a child scratches his ears, the back of his head due to insect bites (we recommend reading:);
- psoriasis, neurodermatitis - plaques with affected areas of the skin spread beyond the ears to the head and body.
The ears and throat are anatomically connected through the auditory tubes, so sore throat and other colds because of inflammatory processes provoke a feeling of discomfort. Kid fighting with an unpleasant feeling, reaches out with a pen and scratches his ear.
A visit to the doctor is also required in cases where the baby accidentally inserts a small object into the ear. Since the sensitivity of the skin is high and the size of the ear is small, independent manipulations to remove it can be dangerous for the baby’s health.
Other causes of discomfort
Harmless reasons that provoke itching in the ears of a baby are:
- drowsiness - with their fists the little ones rub not only their eyes, but also their ears and the whole head;
- developmental feature nervous system crumbs;
- studying his body - the baby touches, pulls his earlobes with interest on his face;
- pain during teething, especially typical for infants 6-8 months old;
- sulfur plug;
- accumulation of sulfur on the walls of the passage or, conversely, its deficiency due to excessively thorough and frequent removal;
- overheating - the child sweats and tries to relieve the itching on the back of the head, neck, ears (we recommend reading:);
- hypothermia;
- microcracks in the ear canal formed after cleaning the ears;
- a mosquito bite, which is visible as a red swelling of the skin;
- small insects getting into the ear canal;
- stagnation of water after water procedures;
- age seborrheic dermatitis, which goes away without treatment in the first 3 months of the baby’s life, less often it persists until 4 years of age.
Swollen ear after mosquito bite There are cases of hereditary predisposition to excessive or insufficient production of wax in the ears, as a result of which they often itch. Lack of knowledge about the health status and diseases of the baby’s relatives leads to groundless assumptions in this regard.
What to do if a baby’s ears itch and how to treat it?
If parents are concerned about the baby's behavior and are trying to understand why the child is scratching his ears, then they should check their condition, as well as evaluate the areas of skin on the head and back of the head. If you can see seborrheic plaques or areas scratched until they bleed behind the auricle, it is better to immediately go to the doctor for a consultation (more details in the article:). There is a high probability of a disease requiring complex treatment.
The presence of small red bites on the temples and back of the head, behind the ears indicates lice in the baby. The mosquito bite area outside or inside the ear, located near the exit, can be treated with an itching reliever. Pay attention to the label of the drug and the admissibility of use for an infant. If you have doubts about the type of insect that bit your baby, it is better to visit the clinic.
Used to relieve itching due to allergies antihistamines. They are prescribed by the doctor after consultation and examination of the child.
If a baby is found to have a fungal or bacterial disease, then before prescribing treatment you will need to undergo tests. The specialist will determine the optimal regimen to alleviate the baby’s condition and prescribe necessary medications. Besides medicinal method therapy, the doctor will prescribe physiotherapy and ear warming ultraviolet lamp.
Treatment for each child is prescribed individually, based on the etiology of the disease, the degree of neglect and the age of the baby. Prevention of ear itching
To choose The right way To eliminate itching in a child, you should find out why the ear itches. If the cause is temporary and is not a symptom of the disease, parents are able to identify the problem without seeing a doctor. Below are a number of causes of itching and preventive measures:
- If a child's ears itch due to allergies, you should know that it manifests itself not only in flowering plants, animal hair, food, but also in dust settling on furniture, the composition of powder for washing children's underwear, baby shampoo, soap, gel , lotion (we recommend reading: ). Adjusting the diet of the baby and the mother, if he is breastfed, will save the baby from food allergies. If the body reacts violently to household chemicals, replacing personal hygiene and laundry care products will help.
- Developing and observing a strict daily routine, when the baby sleeps, is awake and walks fresh air will relieve him of nervousness and drowsiness.
- Compliance with the rules of ear hygiene, cleaning them after washing your hair with special cotton swabs no more than once every 7 days minimizes injury to the delicate skin of the ear canals. Too sudden movements and deep penetration into the ear canal should be avoided, so as not to cause pain and further refusal of the baby from the procedure.
- Checking the ears after cleaning them to ensure that there are no remaining cotton wool fibers will eliminate tickling of the skin inside and, as a result, nervousness of the baby.
- Understanding the periods of development of the baby, when he is teething, checking the condition of his gums helps young parents find a way to relieve pain with the help of cooling gels, special toys with a massaging effect (we recommend reading:). The eruption process begins at 5-9 months.
- Skin-to-skin contact, satisfying the baby’s desire to be closer to the mother - best medicine from fears, nervous tension and anxiety.
What bothers the child? How can one interpret certain of his gestures and actions? Maybe this means something? Parents of infants have asked themselves these questions more than once. After all, a child under the age of one year will not be able to clearly explain to you what is bothering him, but he will be able to show it.
Reasons interest there may be several to the ears of a small growing man. Firstly, it may be a new body part that the baby has discovered and is excited to explore. This reason should not cause concern to parents; it is just a developmental stage. Soon the child’s interest in the ear will disappear and perhaps switch to another part of the body or surrounding objects. Also, many children begin to fiddle with their ears and rub their eyes when they want to sleep. This serves as a signal for calmer communication and games with the child for further transition to sleep.
Reasons why children pull their ears
You may have noticed little children tugging or pulling on their ears. This is very common and usually nothing to worry about. In infants and children younger age Pulling on the ears may be a sign that your baby is tired or has ears blocked by wax.
When should you see a doctor who is pulling your ears?
Difficulty in the ears can also sometimes be a sign of an ear infection. Teething is often blamed for ear suturing, but it is unclear whether there is a connection between teething and tugging. Do you think he might have an ear infection, does your child have Bad mood and you have a fever without apparent reason, which makes you think your child might have put something in his ear. Ear holding and ear pulling are usually nothing to worry about.
The most unfavorable reason increased The child's interest in the ear may be due to conditions and diseases that cause him concern. Teeth cutting, a child with a sore throat, or lymphadenitis may manifest an increased interest in the ear area. The child will constantly touch the parotid area and fiddle with the ear. Sometimes foreign bodies in the external auditory canal can cause discomfort to the child. This could be a cerumen plug or a piece of cotton wool accidentally left in the toilet of the external auditory canal. A change in general condition - fever, anxiety, crying of a child should alert parents and be a reason to consult a doctor.
If you think your child is pulling her ears because she is tired, you can try to soothe her to sleep or give her some quiet time. If your child has an ear infection, he or she may need antibiotics. Don't try to clean your baby's ears with things like popping tips. Avoid getting anything into your baby's ear canal.
Is this a baby's ear infection? 7 Home Tests Can Tell You
If you think your baby is experiencing teething pain, you can try giving it to her at the recommended dose. Stanton, Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Sleep and oral health. Child Care and Child Health, 14, 1 Brown, Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Determination, Current diagnosis and treatment: Pediatrics.
- Condition of the ears, nose and throat.
- Signs, Pediatric reference book.
- Spicy otitis media and otitis media with effusion.
- Flint, Cummings Pediatric Otolaryngology.
- Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
The most common cause of increased interest to the ear - ear pain caused by otitis media (inflammatory disease of the middle or outer ear). From the age of four months, a child tries to reach the sore ear or rub it on the pillow. Ear diseases in young children are quite common. This can be explained by the structural features of the nasopharynx and auditory tube, which is a natural connection between the middle ear cavity and the external environment. In infants, the Eustachian tube is short and wide, located in the same horizontal plane with the nasopharynx. All these factors contribute to the rapid penetration of microorganisms into the middle ear cavity. Also, the constant horizontal position of the baby contributes to the possible entry of mucus from the nasopharynx into the auditory tube.
The spontaneous scream that comes from a previously serene kennel can shake you to the bone. Everyone is haunted by the lingering question: What’s wrong with her? Speaking from experience, an "unknown" newborn ear infection is a tough pill to swallow. Here are some tips and tricks to help you determine when she might need that doctor's visit.
Ear infections extremely common in children and young children. In fact, nearly two-thirds of all children will have at least one ear infection by their birthday. Almost 75% of all children will have at least one infection by age. The “belief” for neonatal infection is 6–18 months.
What other signs otitis Should the child's mother be alerted? This is the child's anxiety, continuous crying, inability to calm down, the child sucks the breast worse, the temperature rises, the baby holds his ear, scratches it, rubs his head on the pillow, pressing his sore ear, falls asleep better.
Severe form of otitis in children breast age may be accompanied by phenomena - throwing back the head, protruding fontanelles, tension in the arms and legs. Sometimes gastrointestinal disorders in the form of vomiting and diarrhea may occur. Discharge from the ear is one of the clearest signs of the disease, however, the eardrum in children is thicker than in adults, so perforations and, as a result, suppuration are rare in practice.
The most common ear infection for babies is a middle ear infection called acute otitis media in medical jargon. The middle ear is an air-filled space behind the eardrum and in front of the eustachian tubes, which connect to the back of the throat. This is the area that contains all the tiny bones that transmit sound from the eardrum to the inner ear.
Infected: Causes of Newborn Ear Infection
The eustachian tubes are vital for secretions and other fluids that drain from the ear and down the throat. IN healthy body The tubes are allowed to drain when your baby yawns or swallows. Ear infections never happen on their own. They are always haunted by some kind of nose or upper respiratory annoyance - such as cold, allergies or flu. The disease then blocks the eustachian tubes at the back of the throat - usually by draining mucus from the nose.
When a child has the above-mentioned symptoms You should immediately consult a doctor and not self-medicate. As a rule, a local pediatrician is called to your home, who may suspect otitis and recommend a consultation with an ENT doctor. The final diagnosis is made by an otolaryngologist based on the characteristic signs of the disease and a mandatory examination of the eardrum - otoscopy - and prescribes appropriate treatment.
Any liquid remaining in the pipes settles in inner ear and waits for the passage of bacteria. Bacteria love the warm temperature of their personal pool, so invites Mrs. Of course, a growing family will need more space, so the tissue and eardrum will swell and become increasingly irritated while your child calls the National Guard to kick out the squatters.
Your Child: A Magnet for Ear Infections
Why do children get more ear infections? First of all, their immune system is still developing, which makes them more prone to illness. Secondly, these small eustachian tubes are very short and horizontal. As your baby grows, they will grow longer and more upright, which will help ear drain naturally. Which children are more likely to struggle with ear infections?
What are the precautions? should follow to reduce the risk of otitis media in an infant? It is necessary to maintain breastfeeding for the baby as long as possible, as a source of protective forces for the growing body. When feeding, it is better to hold the baby more upright, this will reduce the risk of fluid reflux into the ear through the auditory tube. If your baby has a cold, it is important to remember that in the lying position, mucus stagnation forms in the nasopharynx and the risk of infection entering the middle ear cavity increases. Here an aspirator will come to your aid to remove pathological contents from the nasal cavity and changing the position of the baby, turning from one side to the other will reduce the likelihood of mucus stagnation.
Thus, your baby’s seemingly harmless interest in his ears can be the cause of many diseases. Every mother should know this.
Testing for ear infection symptoms
Breastfeeding babies who are allowed to self-feed on their backNational American and Eskimo babies. Infants in day care with more than 5-6 children. . Capturing the symptoms of an ear infection can be challenging. Every child is different and exhibits symptoms differently. After all, it's unlikely that your child will suddenly sit up and announce: Mummy, my middle ear is exhibiting a painful sensation! As always, we need to decipher the clues and put them into action.
Here are some “infection tests” to monitor. If several symptoms seem to pass the tests, go ahead and schedule an appointment. Alone they may not mean anything, but when linked together, these tests create a compelling argument for treatment.
Why does a child touch his ears? Every parent asked himself this question. It occurs especially clearly when the child is very small and does not know how to speak. Parents can only guess. And in order not to guess “from the tea leaves,” you need to contact your pediatrician with this question. He will recommend a series of studies to identify the main cause of the child's anxiety in the ear area.
Second test: ear pulling or tightening
My infant was exposed to second-hand smoke for long periods time?
- Has my child had a cold, allergies or flu recently?
- Did my child have acid reflux?
- Let my child drink the bottle, is it her back?
There are a huge number of reasons for the occurrence of pathologies in the ear zone of children - from a small object getting into the ear, ending with otitis media of various degrees in the outer, middle and even inner parts of the ear system. The latter type of disease is extremely rare and is associated with the transmission of infection through the blood and lymphatic system. Other types of diseases are often diagnosed in young patients. According to statistics, pathologies in the ears of children more often occur after or during colds. Ear diseases are more common in children with low immunity, rickets, after illnesses, etc.
Side Note: Again, this test is not conclusive in itself. There are many other reasons why your baby might be pulling on their ear too: itching, teething, exploring, comfort or simple habit. However, with that said, only one third of babies ever actually develop a fever. This is why this test should be used in combination with others, and never stands alone.
Test test: Irritability at night
As an overnight fix, you can try placing a thin pillow under the crib mattress. This will lift the mattress slightly and help pool fluid in your ears and nose. If you do this, remove all bumpers from the crib. Also, if you're worried that your baby might slip down, we rolled up a hand towel and placed it under bottom part our baby to help her move to the bottom of the crib.
Fungal otitis media
One of the types of otitis is. Caused by the presence of fungus in the baby's body. This is an acquired disease. This type of infection can be transmitted both through the outer ear and by the fungus getting into the sinuses, for example, when rinsing the nose with a runny nose. The fungus can also be introduced into the middle ear due to improper medical procedures. The main causes of fungal otitis media include:
Fifth test: temporary hearing loss
Although this sounds terrible, it is not a sign of impending deafness. Call your doctor to treat the infection; the hole will usually heal.
Test Seven: Other Possible Symptoms
Final exam: when to call the doctor.- Does the baby cry during feeding?
- Sucking and swallowing cause painful pressure changes in the middle ear.
- Is this during “cold and flu season”?
- Some viral infections affect digestion.
Babies can't tell us much - not where it hurts, not how it hurts, not whether treatment makes it better. Many pediatricians say that diagnosing infants is similar to veterinary medicine. Ear infections in infants can be a challenging diagnosis. Veterinary medicine.
- prolonged illness of the baby;
- active drug treatment;
- injuries;
- small objects getting into the ear, etc.
The disease can occur when the microflora of the child’s body is disrupted, which can be caused by any reasons:
- mechanical;
- physical;
- chemical;
- thermal.
Allergic reaction
Most common diagnosis in infancy
Let's look at a common diagnosis of infancy: otitis media. Ear infections. Parents bring their children to their papers, saying they believe the youngest has an ear infection.
Why do they think there is an ear infection?
The younger one is running a low-grade fever, drooling, knocking in his ears or putting his fingers in his ears, angrily, did not sleep well. Let's see what happens next in 90% of doctor's offices. Doc looks at Junior's ear drums - to be more precise, attempts to look at Junior's ear drums. Guess what the eardrum looks like when they fight or scream - right: it's red or pink. As we are trained to do, the doc adds it all: low-grade fevers; inserting fingers into ears, hitting ears; irritability; don't sleep, but red drum!Acute otitis media - ear infection
The younger one is understandably fussy. . Not to be mean to the doctors, but this baby is teething.Most often, ear diseases plague children with allergies. Allergies are the occurrence of pathogenic microflora in the body. And as it develops, it affects not only the outer skin, but can also spread to all the mucous membranes of the child’s organs. Then harmful microflora enters the child’s middle ear, causing damage to organs and tissues. Moreover, no infection is observed during diagnosis. And the child constantly fiddles with his ears and feels restless. The causes of such otitis in most cases are hereditary. But they can also be acquired due to:
The symptom that was missed was drooling. Don't get me started on what all these unnecessary antibiotics are doing to develop drug-resistant bacteria! Symptoms that confuse people are the symptoms of "finger-to-ear" or "bump-to-ear" symptoms.
Why does itching cause babies to dig out their ears?
The ear canal and middle ear are innervated by several nerves, including some that also innervate lower jaw where new teeth appear. These sensory nerves do not provide the same sensation as your fingers. They do not provide an accurate, pinpoint sensation of pain. Painful sensation fuzzy, deep.
- difficult childbirth;
- poor environment;
- weak immune system of the baby.
Other reasons
Pathologies in the ear area most often occur in children:
- having anemia;
- underweight;
- having adenoids in the nasopharynx;
- suffering from various diseases of the throat or nose.
Whatever the reason for the discomfort in the child’s ear, it is necessary to go to the doctor to get the necessary consultation, and, if necessary, prescriptions for treatment.
The pain that some babies experience from teething, or from the back of the throat or back of the nose, may feel like deep pain in the ear. Just ask anyone who has experienced the pain of a tonsillectomy. Deep ear pain is the #2 complaint after tonsillectomy!
Itchy babies simply feel that something deep in the ear canal or throat area hurts. The easiest place to grab is the outer ear. It is also important to perform “blowing” with air flow to see how easily the ear drum moves. Yes, this is a difficult question with a squirming, screaming baby.
Doctors explain frequent ear diseases in children under 5 years of age by the horizontal location of the Eustachian tube. In fact, this auditory canal performs the protective function of the middle ear and prevents a huge number of diseases of the ear area. But in a horizontal position, the auditory tube allows harmful organisms to easily enter and spread in the ear area. Then it changes position and goes into a vertical state. creating a natural barrier for germs, viruses, bacteria.
But if the ear drum moves - and this is most of the time - there is no fluid in the middle ear. No fluid in the middle ear means acute infection. In these cases, these symptoms must be from something other than an ear infection. It's worth repeating: not an ear infection.
Most of the time it's a cutting pain!
Soothing a teething baby is a bit like trying to soothe a colicky baby. Greene's blog post on teething pain for an excellent description of how mainstream medicine approaches the problem. Since there are not enough resources for natural options, let's look at some of them here. Chamomile is calming and soothing. Do Herb tea with chamomile.
Therefore, ear pathology in young children can easily be provoked by:
- overheating or hypothermia;
- when taking a bath;
- strong gusty wind, etc.
Associated symptoms
Why else would a child pick at his ears? Parents will not know until they determine from a doctor what the symptoms are that are bothering the baby. Maybe it's not only:
Suddenly a small child experiences:
- heaviness in the head;
- headache, etc.
All these are symptoms of serious diseases of the ear system, which can only be diagnosed by a specialist.
In addition, the doctor determines whether there is discharge from the ears - this is also one of the accompanying symptoms.
Should I see a doctor?
Just watching a child fiddle with his ears and wondering what’s wrong with him is not worth it. The doctor will help determine the nature and cause of the disease, identify the main causative agent of inflammation, learn about existing concomitant diseases and thereby accurately make a diagnosis. And the correct diagnosis is already half the success of further treatment of the baby.
If parents are in no hurry to see a doctor, they expose their baby to the risk of serious ear diseases, even deafness.
Treatment
After a thorough and careful diagnosis, the child may be prescribed medications that will help relieve him of pathology in the ear area.
Fungal otitis
Treatment of fungal otitis is aimed at destroying the pathogenic fungus. To do this, the doctor must choose the most optimal medication option, which:
- will not additionally disrupt the child’s microflora;
- will remove fungi from the body as much as possible;
- will not negatively affect the baby's immune system.
If necessary, the doctor will prescribe vitamins, and if there is an additional infection, antibacterial drugs. The doctor will try to avoid antibiotic treatment as much as possible, but if this is not possible due to the development of the disease, then antibiotic therapy will be prescribed - both internally and externally. Intramuscular or intravenous injections are also possible.
But on the first day of the appointment, the doctor will wash the child’s ear with antifungal agents.
Allergies
For allergies, it is aimed at combating allergic reactions. The doctor determines the child’s diet, necessary vitamins and medications to improve immunity. If allergic otitis media occurs as a result of bronchial asthma, then the main allergen should be excluded. It can be pet hair, dust, smoke, etc. Treatment of such children is carried out mainly with antiallergic drugs and diet therapy. If the allergy affects the outer ear, then ointments, gels, and drops are prescribed for external use.
Traditional treatment
As an additional therapy, the doctor can recommend folk remedies: herbs, propolis, sunbathing, etc. Often the doctor recommends teas based on herbs that have antiseptic properties:
- St. John's wort;
- aloe, etc.
It is not recommended to give these decoctions, teas and infusions to your child yourself.
Prevention
Seeing a doctor on time is the key to your child’s health. It is no coincidence that during the first year of your baby’s life you constantly go to the pediatrician, who, after a thorough examination of the child, can promptly identify abnormalities. Then he will refer you to a more specialized specialist to undergo a diagnosis and find out if there is any reason to worry. Don't skip visiting the doctor. And if you see that something is bothering your child, then immediately go to the clinic for consultations. If the baby is healthy, then maintain this health:
- frequent walks;
- proper nutrition;
- mandatory daytime sleep;
- adherence to daily routine and nutrition;
- hardening procedures and so on.
Monitor your baby's behavior. If he picks at his ear and starts crying, this is not just whims, this is a reason to see a doctor.
