Infant Ear Infection

It's one of the most common reasons for visiting the doctor...ear infection and in children, it can become a long drawn out process of monitoring and care. It's been a long time, but I remember well, as a youngster, the long walks to hospital with my mom and I distinctly recall the various treatments I received. They were not pleasant memories.

Infant ear infection is particularly hard to detect because of the lack of concrete clues. Many parents will take their children to the doctor because of the constant pulling on the ear by the child however, in most cases, ear infection is not the culprit.

Infant Ear Infections - Pain Is The Biggest Clue

Ear aches can come on very quickly and the accompanying symptoms will be pain and usually fever. Pain is obviously the biggest giveaway in toddler ear infections because make no mistake, they hurt!

This is one of the reasons if a child continually pulls on it's ear but appears to be in no discomfort at all that ear infection is usually ruled out. There could be a host of other reasons why the child is tugging it's ear such as teething, curiosity by the child, itching and yes, even habitual. A little like sucking the thumb. But what does an adult with their first child and no relative experience in this area do? The most obvious course of action is to head to the doctor.

Detecting Ear Infections In Babies

So how can you be sure your infant has an ear infection? Well, you can never be sure but the symptoms should at least give you a lead. Pain is the obvious symptom but other tell tale tale signs will be crying in short sharp bursts and the child being very irritated. Obviously in older children the biggest symptom is that they will tell you their ear hurts!

In children, ear infection is most likely up until the child is two years of age. Ear infections in babies is much more common than in adults.

Causes Of Infant Ear Infection

No single cause has been established however, it seems more like a series of factors contributing. For example, allergies, either to food or substances in the air, infections such as upper respiratory infection, immune deficiency which could be as a result of immature immune systems. Diet and nutrition also influences the immune system while a child under stress may also have it's immune function compromised. Factors of an environmental nature can also contribute such as cigarette smoke.