As a child, you probably remember those miserable trips to the doctor to treat the repetitive earaches you experienced. As a parent, you are likely driving your child to and from the doctor to treat your child’s ear infections, otherwise known as Otitis Media. While such ear infections are not a pleasant experience, they can be easily cured. Otitis Media is an inflammation of the middle ear that is most common among children. It is also more common in the winter and spring season when allergies and colds are in full bloom.

CAUSES

The main cause of an ear infection is the blockage of the Eustachian tube during colds, allergies, or upper respiratory infection. Otherwise, it can be caused by an accumulation of fluid located behind the eardrum.

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SYMPTOMS

For Infants and Toddlers:
Tendency to pull or scratch their ear along with:

• Hearing problems
• Crying
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Ear drainage

For Young Children, Adolescents, and Adults:

• Earache
• Feeling of fullness and pressure in ear
• Hearing problems
• Dizziness and/or loss of balance
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Ear drainage
• Fever

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TREATMENT OPTIONS

The following are options to treat an earache; however, it is important that you contact your health care provider for a treatment that best suits you.

• Acupuncture – two methods of treatment are used. The first is to treat acute conditions ranging from little or no discharge to thick, yellow, often foul smelling discharge.  The second is to treat chronic conditions – often resulting from acute conditions that were not resolved.
  
  
• Analgesic drops – used to ease pain, inflammation, congestion, and to soften earwax so it’s more easy to flush out of the ear.
  
  
• Antihistamine – used when the cause of ear infections is allergies.
  
  
• Chiropractic – the use of tympanography and subluxation has been proven to show a strong correlation for treatment of children with otitis media.
  
  
• Decongestant – this is usually used when the earache is an addition to a cold.
  
  
• Myringotomy –this surgery is done to make a small incision in the ear to promote drainage.
  
  
• Ventilation tube – this is placed in the myringotomy incision to prevent fluid buildup.

Click Here for Treating Ear Infections with Natural Remedies

Ear infections can be an uncomfortable experience for children and adults; if they are not treated immediately and properly, negative consequences can occur. One significant consequence is hearing loss, which may affect a child’s learning and speech development. In addition, if not treated, the infection can spread throughout the head leading to damage that is more significant.

Ear infections do not have to be a serious issue, but it is most important for the parent and child to treat the problem as soon as possible to prevent further problems.

Sources: American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,  Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics, Yin Yang House,