Doctor says irritability, fever and pulling at ears are possible signs.
(HealthDay)—Although most babies will have at least one ear infection before they reach the age of 1, the infections can be hard for parents to recognize.
Identifying and treating ear infections in babies is important because they can lead to other problems, according to Dr. Andrew Hotaling, a pediatric otolaryngologist at Loyola University Health System in Chicago.
"Hearing disorders can lead to impediments in speech development and other growth milestones," Hotaling said in a Loyola news release. "The ear infections are usually located in the middle ear."
Signs of an ear infections in babies include fever, irritability, poor sleep, and pulling or tugging at ears.
"Antibiotics should only be prescribed if the ear infection cannot be cleared without them," Hotaling said. "Incorrectly administering antibiotics can cause further harm."
Pediatric versions of anti-inflammatory acetaminophen or ibuprofen can provide relief, but check with your pediatrician about the right dosing information, Hotaling said.
A non-drug option is to apply heat to the outer ear, using a warm (not hot) wash cloth compress or brief use of a warm (not hot) heating pad or water bottle, he said.
"If your baby gets three ear infections in six months or four in one year, it may be time to consider ear tubes," Hotaling said.
The tubes, which have to be implanted during a surgical procedure, provide ventilation and drainage that helps prevent fluid buildup in the ears. Although anesthesia is required, the whole procedure takes about 15 minutes, according to Hotaling.
The tubes usually stay in place for six months to a year, and generally fall out on their own, he said.
Explore further: Xtoro approved for swimmer's ear
More information: The U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders has more about ear infections.
Copyright © 2015 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Medical Xpress on facebook
Related Stories
Xtoro approved for swimmer's ear
(HealthDay)—Xtoro (finafloxacin otic suspension) eardrops have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat swimmer's ear, clinically known as acute otitis externa.
AAO-HNSF clinical practice guideline: Tympanostomy tubes in children
A multidisciplinary clinical practice guideline that helps physicians identify children most likely to benefit from tympanostomy tubes, provide the best care before and after surgery, and improve counseling and education ...
Viral infection in nose can trigger middle ear infection
Middle ear infections, which affect more than 85 percent of children under the age of 3, can be triggered by a viral infection in the nose rather than solely by a bacterial infection, according to researchers at Wake Forest ...
Antibiotics found to increasingly fail
Pediatricians in the United States are increasingly finding that antibiotics are not always ideal for treating ear infections, a report says.
Antibiotics do not appear helpful in preventing fluid buildup in children with ear infections
When prescribed to children with middle ear infections, antibiotics are not associated with a significant reduction in fluid buildup in the ear, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies in the February ...
Recommended for you
Migraine drug may up risk of eating disorders in some teens
(HealthDay)—A new report has linked a migraine medication to increased odds of eating disorders in some teens.
Low-cost incubator gently warms hypothermic infants
Rice University students have built a unique incubator for hypothermic infants that can be flat-packed and shipped at minimal cost anywhere in the world.
Scientists confirm better test for acute kidney injury in children
Yale researchers compared two markers for acute kidney injury (AKI), an increasingly common condition affecting thousands of hospitalized patients each year. The Yale team members and their co-authors found ...
Statistical model helps predict neonatal intubation competency
(HealthDay)—Neonatal intubation competency can be modeled using a Bayesian statistical model, according to a study published online April 6 in Pediatrics.
2014 bronchiolitis guidelines focus on avoiding interventions
(HealthDay)—The 2014 new and updated guidelines for management of bronchiolitis largely focus on tests or treatments to avoid, according to a perspective piece published online April 6 in Pediatrics.
Text message alerts keep more children up-to-date with vaccinations in study
Nearly a third of all children nationwide and in Kentucky aren't up-to-date with the vaccination schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), but not because their parents are refusing vaccines. ...
User comments
Please sign in to add a comment. Registration is free, and takes less than a minute. Read more
Click here to reset your password.
Sign in to get notified via email when new comments are made.
Doctor says irritability, fever and pulling at ears are possible signs.
(HealthDay)—Although most babies will have at least one ear infection before they reach the age of 1, the infections can be hard for parents to recognize.
Identifying and treating ear infections in babies is important because they can lead to other problems, according to Dr. Andrew Hotaling, a pediatric otolaryngologist at Loyola University Health System in Chicago.
"Hearing disorders can lead to impediments in speech development and other growth milestones," Hotaling said in a Loyola news release. "The ear infections are usually located in the middle ear."
Signs of an ear infections in babies include fever, irritability, poor sleep, and pulling or tugging at ears.
"Antibiotics should only be prescribed if the ear infection cannot be cleared without them," Hotaling said. "Incorrectly administering antibiotics can cause further harm."
Pediatric versions of anti-inflammatory acetaminophen or ibuprofen can provide relief, but check with your pediatrician about the right dosing information, Hotaling said.
A non-drug option is to apply heat to the outer ear, using a warm (not hot) wash cloth compress or brief use of a warm (not hot) heating pad or water bottle, he said.
"If your baby gets three ear infections in six months or four in one year, it may be time to consider ear tubes," Hotaling said.
The tubes, which have to be implanted during a surgical procedure, provide ventilation and drainage that helps prevent fluid buildup in the ears. Although anesthesia is required, the whole procedure takes about 15 minutes, according to Hotaling.
The tubes usually stay in place for six months to a year, and generally fall out on their own, he said.
Explore further: Xtoro approved for swimmer's ear
More information: The U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders has more about ear infections.
Copyright © 2015 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Medical Xpress on facebook
Related Stories
Xtoro approved for swimmer's ear
(HealthDay)—Xtoro (finafloxacin otic suspension) eardrops have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat swimmer's ear, clinically known as acute otitis externa.
AAO-HNSF clinical practice guideline: Tympanostomy tubes in children
A multidisciplinary clinical practice guideline that helps physicians identify children most likely to benefit from tympanostomy tubes, provide the best care before and after surgery, and improve counseling and education ...
Viral infection in nose can trigger middle ear infection
Middle ear infections, which affect more than 85 percent of children under the age of 3, can be triggered by a viral infection in the nose rather than solely by a bacterial infection, according to researchers at Wake Forest ...
Antibiotics found to increasingly fail
Pediatricians in the United States are increasingly finding that antibiotics are not always ideal for treating ear infections, a report says.
Antibiotics do not appear helpful in preventing fluid buildup in children with ear infections
When prescribed to children with middle ear infections, antibiotics are not associated with a significant reduction in fluid buildup in the ear, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies in the February ...
Recommended for you
Migraine drug may up risk of eating disorders in some teens
(HealthDay)—A new report has linked a migraine medication to increased odds of eating disorders in some teens.
Low-cost incubator gently warms hypothermic infants
Rice University students have built a unique incubator for hypothermic infants that can be flat-packed and shipped at minimal cost anywhere in the world.
Scientists confirm better test for acute kidney injury in children
Yale researchers compared two markers for acute kidney injury (AKI), an increasingly common condition affecting thousands of hospitalized patients each year. The Yale team members and their co-authors found ...
Statistical model helps predict neonatal intubation competency
(HealthDay)—Neonatal intubation competency can be modeled using a Bayesian statistical model, according to a study published online April 6 in Pediatrics.
2014 bronchiolitis guidelines focus on avoiding interventions
(HealthDay)—The 2014 new and updated guidelines for management of bronchiolitis largely focus on tests or treatments to avoid, according to a perspective piece published online April 6 in Pediatrics.
Text message alerts keep more children up-to-date with vaccinations in study
Nearly a third of all children nationwide and in Kentucky aren't up-to-date with the vaccination schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), but not because their parents are refusing vaccines. ...
User comments
Please sign in to add a comment. Registration is free, and takes less than a minute. Read more
Click here
to reset your password.
Sign in to get notified via email when new comments are made.
0 comments:
Post a Comment