As a parent, it can be hard to see your child in distress from an ear infection. Ear infections can cause serious ear pain, as well as changes in hearing and other health complications if left untreated. That said, they’re also incredibly common in kids, affecting approximately five out of every six children before their third birthday. Why is that?
Causes of Ear Infections
Ear infections occur at all ages when viruses or bacteria infect one of the three zones of the ear: the outer ear, the middle ear, or the inner ear. With an outer ear infection, the infection is in front of the eardrum; a middle ear infection is behind the eardrum; and an inner ear infection affects the cochlea, the organ in the inner ear.
Viruses and bacteria can be introduced to these areas in several different ways, from moisture exposure to the common cold. If fluid builds up in any of these areas, it creates the perfect conditions for an infection to fester.
Why Ear Infections Are More Common in Children than Adults
Specifically, it’s middle ear infections, or otitis media, that are more common in children. The primary reason for this is the size of their Eustachian (yoo-STAY-shun) tubes. These tubes connect the cavity of the middle ear to the back of the throat, and they’re responsible for draining fluid from the middle ear and equalizing pressure between the inside of the ear and the outside. They contribute to ear infections in two major ways:
- Poor drainage. Children’s Eustachian tubes are smaller, narrower and more horizontally positioned than adults’. Imagine trying to drink water from a narrow straw: that’s what fluid drainage in a child’s Eustachian tubes is like. As we grow up, they (like many other parts of our bodies) get bigger, and as our faces get longer, they’ll position themselves more vertically, which means gravity will help more with drainage, as well. But as children, their size and horizontalness create poor drainage.
- Bacteria movement. At the back of your child’s throat are two masses of tissue called the adenoids. They function much like your tonsils do, trapping and neutralizing germs that enter the body through the nose and mouth. However, adenoids can become infected. When that happens, the bacteria can easily travel up the Eustachian tubes to the inner ear, spreading the infection there.
How to Prevent an Ear Infection in Your Child
Given their anatomy and the frequency with which children are exposed to germs, it is almost impossible to completely prevent ear infections in children (if it were possible, they wouldn’t be nearly so common!). But there are some actions you can take that will decrease the risk:
- Teach your child good hygiene habits. Teach them to wash their hands and blow their nose properly. And remember that they copy what you do; model good hygiene practices in your own life as well.
- Vaccinate your child. Getting an annual flu and COVID shot reduces their likelihood of getting sick. This could preempt an ear infection.
- Keep your child away from secondhand smoke. Irritants like cigarette smoke and air pollution can cause ear infections. If you or someone in your home smokes, institute a rule that all smoke breaks happen outside, away from the kids, or consider quitting the habit.
- Avoid sick people. If you know someone has been sick recently, wait to visit them until they have completely recovered from their illness, so it doesn’t spread to your child. Check in with your child’s school or daycare sick policy, as well, so you can watch for exposure to germs at school.
Treating an Ear Infection
Many ear infections clear up on their own within a couple of days without medical treatment. However, if the ear infection lasts several days or keeps coming back, it’s time to call the doctor. They can provide a prescription for antibiotics to fight a bacterial infection or evaluate if your child is a good candidate for ear tubes. Call Spartanburg-Greer ENT & Allergy today to learn more.