How to Treat an Ear Infection in Babies

Treating an ear infection in babies is not always easy, as doctors often experience difficulty diagnosing early ear infections. Initially, babies developing ear infections may appear to have colds or viral infections that tend to run their own courses.

Secondary infections can result from colds and viruses and then, lead to more serious ear problems, so any symptoms of possible ear infections in babies should not disregarded by their parents and the babies should be seen immediately by doctors.

What are the symptoms of ear infections in babies?

Babies with ear infections may experience sharp, dull or burning pain in the region of their ears. When they have intermittent or constant earaches, babies often become fretful, refuse to eat or drink and are unable to sleep.

As ear infections become progressively worse, babies begin to cry continually or scream for long periods. This is because there is increasing pain resulting from inflammation and swelling of the eardrum. With inner ear infections, their ear canals may not be draining properly.

Babies with ear infections and accompanying earaches, often rub their ears in an attempt to alleviate their pain. They also tend to be cranky. Parents may attribute their general discomfort to teething problems, not realizing that they are developing ear infections.

Other symptoms related to ear infections are the sudden elevation in the babies’ temperatures, accompanied by drainage or odor coming from their ears. The babies’ temperatures may become elevated to 104 Fahrenheit, very quickly. A foul odor accompanying brown, yellow or white drainage coming from an ear, usually suggests rupture of an eardrum.

Treatment of an ear infection in babies:

Obtaining immediate diagnosis and treatment for ear infections in babies is important. Significant hearing loss can result if ear infections are not treated properly. Other complications can also arise later.

  

Doctors use instruments called otoscopes to check movement of babies’ eardrums. Healthy eardrums normally move, appear pinkish gray and are transparent. Infected eardrums are red, swollen and inflamed. 

Swabs of ear drainage taken and sent to labs, can help determine the cause of ear infections.

There are three basic methods of treatment for babies with infected ears.

Medical treatment for pain symptoms from earaches is usually acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Note that babies should receive appropriate dosages of any medication. Antibiotics are preferred to treat bacterial infections, but not prescribed for colds or virus infections. 

Note that there is increasing concern about possible side effects from antibiotics, resistance to them at a later date, as well as the danger of possible drug interactions. 

A myringotomy or surgical intervention with the insertion of ear tubes may be performed facilitating drainage of ear canals, when blockage of ear canals persists.     

Parents should be aware that ear infections in babies are always serious in nature, as they may experience total loss of hearing or possible meningitis. Doctors should always be consulted in any scenario where babies have ear infections.