Children and Ear Infections
by Lucinda Jenkins LPNHC
Ear infections account for over 25 million visits to the Doctor
in a year. They are very common but can cause untold pain
and suffering in the child and the parents.
One
of the ways to curtail the amount of ear infections begins
before the baby is born. Do not smoke or be around cigarette
smoke when you are pregnant. Studies are showing that smoking
may interfere with the fetus' immune system development, making
the child prone to ear infections. Furthermore ..to expose
an infant , toddler to cigarette smoke is an ear infection
waiting to happen. There is now enough evidence to say that
cigarette smoke does cause ear and sinus infection in children
and prevents the complete healing of these troubles.
( I can say as an experienced office nurse that an infant
that smells like a ash tray is more common than you think.
I could handle the messy diapers but a smokey smell is a crying
shame!)
There are different types of ear infections , listed are
the main two.
External otitis, or the outer ear infection: This is usually
preceded by allergies or upper respiratory infections. The
outer ear and ear canal are infected up to the ear drum with
symptoms of slight fever, pain, throbbing which hurts worse
to touch it.
Otitis media or middle ear infections...the area behind the
eardrum is infected with symptoms of high fever, sharp pain
and throbbing..you will see the child pull or tug at their
ears with crying. Pressure builds behind the eardrum , a rip
or perforation results in the eardrum and the pain is reduced
quickly. Fluid draining from the ear is a clue the eardrum
has ruptured.
Doctors are becoming more reluctant to treat ear infection
with antibiotics due to the new strains of ear infections
created by overuse of antibiotics.
There
are some other alternatives that can be used which are safe:
A few drops of warm garlic oil dropped into the ear canal
will help to stop the pain and will kill the bacteria, germs,
fungus in the ear.
Giving the child echinacea extract will boost the immune system
to fight off the infection. You can also use Goldenseal extract
in child's drink but remember this is not an herb to take
routinely.
After a round of Goldenseal be sure to supplement the diet
with acidophilus. If you are going to smoke around the child
then keep these herbs handy.
Try to reduce allergy causing foods from the diet like dairy
products, wheat, corn, oranges, peanut butter, and sugars.
Worth a mention here ..breast fed babies have less sinus and
ear infections than bottle fed babies. And one more note..My
17 year old daughter has had antibiotics just once in her
life,,she has taken the echinacea and goldenseal all her life
(when needed)....just thought I would mention that also!!
(she was breast fed too!)
Here is one more important point, Don't smoke around babies!
Children
and Ear Infections by Lucinda Jenkins LPNHC
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