How to Prevent Ear Infection
Sometimes it’s the small things in life that cause the most pain…an earache can be quite harrowing and enough to cause sleepless nights, both for the parents as well as the kids.
A middle ear infection, also known as otitis media is basically an infection by bacteria or virus in the area behind the eardrum. The infection causes swelling and fluid build-up in the eustachian tubes that connect the ears to the back of the throat and creates pressure and pain within the ear. This pressure can also affect hearing.
Acute ear infections can be short-term, very painful and clear up within a few days. Chronic infections may not be so painful but keep recurring over time and are more dangerous as they can lead to rupture of the eardrum with permanent hearing loss and middle and inner ear damage.
Ear infections occur more frequently in children as their eustachian tubes are shorter and get plugged easily. Symptoms of ear infections include low–grade fever, fluid oozing from the ear, feeling of pressure and pain in the ear, trouble sleeping and in some cases, hearing loss.
The good thing about ear infections is that they are both preventable as well as treatable, and there are numerous things you can do to prevent infections in yourself as well as your child.
Maintaining hygiene is the most important feature of prevention and frequent washing of hands as well as toys and other things that your child touches is important. This reduces the chances of contracting colds and throat infections which can progress to ear infections.
You also need to keep up-to-date with your child’s immunization schedule for infections like pneumonia, influenza and meningitis. While the vaccines don’t control ear infections, they do control infections that could later on progress to ear infections.
Allergic episodes have also been associated with ear infections as the sinuses may swell up causing blockage and retention of fluids inside the eustachian tubes; this fluid creates an ideal medium for bacteria and virus to grow in and create pressure and pain in the ear.
The adenoids which are small tissues behind the tongue are designed to trap bacteria and viruses, but if they get infected by these germs, they swell up, leading to the spread of infection to other body parts, including the ears.
Smoking isn’t just bad for your lungs, but for your ears too. Smoking and smoke irritates the upper airways, leading to excessive mucus production. This mucus further goes onto block the eustachian tubes and increase the risk for ear infections. So avoid smoking in the house or the car, to prevent second-hand smoke from irritating your kid.
Breast-feeding the child till they are one year old has been known to reduce the incidence of ear infections. Also, avoid bottle-feeding the baby in a lying-down position. Discontinuing the pacifier early-on in babies also bring downs the incidence of ear infections.
If you’ve any questions regarding ear infections, do book an appointment with our ENT specialists here: Click here
Ten Effective Remedies That You Can Refer to When You Are Suffering from Muscle Cramps
Finally starting off with the gym life can get too overwhelming until you hit those muscle cramps along with the weights.
ICSI(Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection)
Normally during every mid-menstrual period, one of the 2 ovaries releases an ovum. Each ovum is covered by a membrane called follicle,
Pregnancy and Delivery Care
Nothing could possibly compare to the joy of becoming a parent. After nine long months of waiting, the moment you have been waiting for is almost there:
Some Common Causes of Chest Pain
The first thing that jumps into the mind whenever you have some sort of chest pain is heart attack! It’s only human to feel that way
Organic Food Vs GMO Food: What Should You Pick?
There is no doubt that the quality of food we consume is crucial for our good health. And with more people becoming health conscious the d
Importance of Breastfeeding and Vaccinations for Newborns
Going nature’s way is best when it comes to providing nourishment for the apple of your eye – your baby. Breast milk is best for your baby as it
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL): A Breakthrough in Kidney Stone Treatment
Kidney stones, those small, hard mineral deposits that form in the kidneys, can cause excruciating pain and discomfort.
Skin Tags - Benign Tumor or Cancerous Tumor?
Skin tag if observed is a narrow stalk that hangs about your skin, bulging at the end. They are usually freshly colored and can grow anywhere on your body.
3 Ways Vitamin C is Helpful for the Immune System
The water-soluble vitamin, Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid. It is helpful in building up the blood vessels, skins, and making bones stronger
4 Signs of Mental Illness
As life has gotten fast and hectic, different health issues have got introduced lately. Not just physical issues,
4 Ways Night-Shifts Can Be Dangerous For Your Menstruation And Ovulation
A good night's sleep is of value for pregnant women. But with strenuous work-hours and shift work, sleep can quite a luxury for all.
Causes Of Infertility in Women
More and more women are putting off pregnancy till well into their 30’s or early 40’s for career reasons; infertility is fast becoming a major heartbreaking issue for such couples.
Do Not Indulge in These 9 Common Dieting Mistakes
Dieting is not just about eating less or starving yourself to meet unrealistic goals. Healthy dieting involves making informed food choices.
Laryngeal Reiinervation Procedure at KIMS Hospital
Mr. K.P 56-year-old business executive from Bangalore underwent a thyroid surgery two years back.
Learn How Stress Affects Your Heart Health
Stress is a frequent side effect of the modern 21st Century lifestyle. We’re always running around to meet deadlines, pay bills we tend to
Lose Weight: The Healthy Way
Almost everyone we know is worried about the way they look. There are several concerns people have, like their complexion
Myths About Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery – be it the gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgeries – involve making changes to your digestive system to help you lose weight.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Should You be Worried?
A recent study has found that 1 in 5 people in India suffers from liver disorders. Before you blame it on the increased alcohol consumption
Obesity and its Relation to Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that arises when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin,, hence there is excess glucose in the blood
Rotator Cuff Tear
A rotator cuff tear is a rotator cuff injury that can cause shoulder pain and loss of arm function. The rotator cuff is a set of muscles and tendons in your shoulder.
What Happens to Your Body When You Fast?
Fasting has been practised by humans for thousands of years as a way of rejuvenating the mind, body and soul and as a common ritual of many religions from all over the world
Why You Shouldn’t Consume Medicines with Cold Water
There has been a long-raging debate on the temperature of water needed for consuming medications. You won’t find much as in research papers
10 Tasty Delicious Diabetic-Friendly Recipes
Worry about it no more, as a healthy diabetic diet does not have to be bland. Instead, you can enjoy a myriad of flavorful, low-calorie
4 Not So Common Health Problems in Teenagers
The current generation of teenagers have far more access to technology and gadgets than their parents did.
4 Secrets to Adjusting Your Toddler's Sleep Cycle
Most of the parents, some time or the other, may have faced the trouble of making their toddlers sleep at night.
Related Blogs
Ten Effective Remedies That You Can Refer to When You Are Suffering from Muscle Cramps
Finally starting off with the gym life can get too overwhelming until you hit those muscle cramps along with the weights.
ICSI(Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection)
Normally during every mid-menstrual period, one of the 2 ovaries releases an ovum. Each ovum is covered by a membrane called follicle,