Page 13 - Elevate Winter 2021

until morning. That can buy time until you KIDS HEALTH
can see your child’s pediatrician instead of
taking her to the emergency department, KIDS’ STUFF
as long as more serious symptoms, such as
seizure, don’t occur. Why are ear infections common in children but rare in adults? The answer lies in
children’s maturing anatomy.
“Children younger than 2 with a
suspected ear infection should see their During a respiratory infection, excess mucus from the nose may drain to the middle
pediatrician within 24 hours,” Dr. Peterson ear through a structure called the eustachian tube. There, bacteria can grow and cause
says. “For children older than 2, see a an ear infection.
pediatrician if ear pain is severe or lasts
longer than 48 hours.” “In infants and young children, the middle ear and nose are exactly opposite each
other, making the flow of mucus from the nose toward the middle ear easy,” says
Your pediatrician will use an otoscope Christy Peterson, MD, pediatrician at Atrium Health Navicent. “As children get older,
to look inside your child’s ear for signs their face and head grow longer. This makes mucus more likely to drain out of the nose
of infection. If the ear is infected, the and less likely to drain toward the middle ear.”
pediatrician may prescribe medicine to
relieve pain while the infection runs its WEAR A SWIM CAP!
course. If your child doesn’t improve after
a few days, antibiotics may be necessary. STAY AWAY, SWIMMER’S EAR
If that’s the case, it’s important to follow
your pediatrician and pharmacist’s If your child loves to spend time in the » Have her wear ear plugs or a swim cap in
instructions. Your child should finish the water—whether swimming indoors or the water
entire course of medication. outside—it’s important to take steps to
prevent swimmer’s ear. This type of ear » Instruct her to tilt her head to each side to
“Always use a syringe to deliver infection usually occurs when bacteria grow allow water to drain from the ears and dry
the exact amount of oral medication in water trapped in the ear. Along with her ears with a towel after swimming or
prescribed,” Dr. Peterson says. “Don’t mix middle ear infections, swimmer’s ear is one showering
the medication into liquid or food without of the main types of ear infection that affect
talking to your pediatrician first.” children, according to Christy Peterson, MD, » Keep objects, including cotton swabs, out
pediatrician at Atrium Health Navicent. of her ear canal
Children usually feel better within two
days of starting treatment, according to Unlike a middle ear infection, swimmer’s » Use over-the-counter ear-drying drops
Dr. Peterson. ear affects the outer part of the ear. A after swimming, but only with her
middle ear infection can lead to swimmer’s pediatrician’s approval
EAR SAVERS ear if pus leaks into the ear canal. Antibiotic ear drops can treat swimmer’s

Taking steps to limit your child’s exposure To reduce your child’s risk of swimmer’s ear. Dr. Peterson says that, with treatment,
to germs can help her avoid ear infections. ear, you can: children with swimmer’s ear typically feel
These include handwashing, discouraging better in 48 to 72 hours and can go to
her from touching her face with unwashed school if they feel like it.
hands and keeping her away from sick
children.

Another important way to reduce
your child’s risk for ear infections is
ensuring she’s up to date on recommended
vaccinations, especially the flu vaccine.

“Children 6 months of age and older
can get the flu vaccine,” Dr. Peterson says.
“Since many young children who get the
flu will go on to develop an acute middle
ear infection, the flu vaccine can reduce
the incidence of ear infections.”

A PEDIATRICIAN CAN HELP YOU
AND YOUR CHILD NAVIGATE EAR
INFECTIONS AND MANY OTHER
COMMON CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES.
TO FIND A PEDIATRICIAN, VISIT
WWW.CHILDRENSHOSPITALNH.ORG
AND CLICK ON “FIND A DOCTOR.”

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