My child is screaming with pain. I think it's his ear. Should I take him to Emergency? If your child wakes up at 3 a.m. screaming because her right eardrum is red and bulging, do NOT automatically rush to the nearest Emergency Room. Although painful, earaches are not usually life-threatening emergencies. In fact, the Emergency Room environment and the wait for help may be more unpleasant than the earache. More info at Avoid Emergency Rooms.
return to top What can I do at home to make my child more comfortable? Probably the best thing you can do is to be patient, wait out the problem, and treat the pain. You can also help your medical provider by becoming skilled at examining your child ears at home with an Earscope. More info at Home Care of Ear Infections.
return to top What are the Symptoms of an Ear Infection? In a young child, irritability, crying, malaise, fever, diminished appetite, and ear pulling may be observed. Cold symptoms (runny nose, congestion, eye inflammation, etc.) are often present since colds are the most common accompaniment to ear infection.
return to top What causes Ear Infections? The canal that runs from the ear to the mouth (the Eustachian tube) is very small in young children. As a result of a cold, flu, allergy or other causes, the Eustachian tube can easily become plugged, becoming a breeding ground for bacteria. As the child matures, the Eustachian tube grows larger and infections are less likely. Usually by age 6, children 'grow out of' ear infections.
return to top Are Antibiotics the Only Cure for Ear Infections? No! More and more studies indicate that the use of antibiotics weakens the body own defense system, making the patient less resistant to future attacks. Watchful waiting is the tactic which is becoming more and more accepted as a better alternative. See Waiting as an Alternative.
return to top Why Should I Bother Monitoring my Child Ears? You are in a much better position to develop a sense of your child's patterns of ear health, as you can become much more familiar with these patterns on a daily or weekly basis, than a doctor who only sees your child occasionally.
return to top How Can I Learn How to Use an Earscope/Otoscope? When you order an Earscope from us, you will receive illustrated instructions on how to use it. Practice on an adult first. Once you feel comfortable about looking into an adult ears, then try it with your child, but be sure to look first at the 'well' ear, rather than the painful one. This will help to assure the child that what you are doing is not itself causing pain. How to Choose an Otoscope
return to top How can I tell what I'm looking at with an Earscope? There is nothing mysterious about the ear drum and ear canal except that they are hidden. With experience you can learn to notice small changes to the canal and drum, and since you have constant access to your kid ears you will know better than anyone what appears normal. But be careful - ears can fool you. Crying can cause ear drums to be red without an infection, and many times middle ear fluid behind the ear drum is difficult to see. Have your provider show you what to look for, or see actual photographs of eardrums in Rod Moser’s book Ears, an Owner's Manual (samples of which are shown here on our site A LOOK INSIDE ). Such regular monitoring of ears at home will give you a continuing progress report, something even your doctor won’t have.
return to top How can I Prevent Ear Infections from Recurring? - Breast-feed your baby, if possible.
- If you use a bottle, elevate the baby's head.
- Avoid spreading colds by maximizing hand washing when others in the family have colds.
- Provide a smoke-free environment.
- Know that placing your child in a day-care center increases exposure to respiratory infections.
See Prevention
return to top What serious Complications should I know about?? While not common, serious complications of ear infections can happen. For this reason, you should consult your doctor if unusual symptoms arise.
See Emergency
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