Baby Has an Ear Infection
Feb. 18, 2002 — No matter how conscientious parents are,
babies are likely to come down with colds during their first year, and colds
often lead to ear infections.
“The signs and symptoms can be very general, so they need
to be looked at, especially in really young children less than 2 months of
age,” says Anthony Magit, MD, associate clinical professor at the
University of California, San Diego, and the Children’s Hospital and Health
Center. Left untreated, ear infections can lead to more serious problems,
including meningitis and hearing loss.
The typical ear infection — called otitis media — occurs when
a cold or allergy causes swelling of the baby’s eustachian tube, causing
blockage that allows bacteria to grow in the middle ear.. Otitis media is
particularly common in babies because their immune systems are immature and
their eustachian tubes may not effectively drain fluid from the middle ear.
There are two types of middle ear infections. Acute otitis
media often causes pain, fever, and a bulging red eardrum. Otitis media with
effusion (OME) occurs when the middle ear doesn’t drain properly and fluid is
trapped behind the eardrum. A child may not experience pain with OME. Both
types of infection sometimes clear up without treatment.
The Latest in Ears
Because they’re so run-of-the-mill, you may think you know all
you need to know about ear infections. But treatment and prevention strategies
have changed in the past year, so a refresher course may be in order. You
should know that:
There’s now a vaccination for children under 2 to help ward off one of the
most common bacterial causes of ear infections.
Doctors are using antibiotics more conservatively in an effort to prevent
drug resistance.
There’s a new laser surgery that might be worth considering in certain
cases of recurring ear infections.
The newest weapon in the battle against otitis media is the
pneumococcal vaccine. According to new American Academy of Pediatrics
guidelines, all children under age 2 years should receive the vaccine, along
with other recommended immunizations, at 2, 4, and 6 months and between 12 and
15 months.
“It’s not 100 percent [effective], but it seems to result
in about a 20% reduction in ear infections,” says Albert Park, MD,
assistant professor of pediatric otolaryngology at Loyola University Medical
Center in Maywood, Ill. The vaccine is also recommended for children ages 2 to
5 who are at high risk for developing pneumococcal infections.
Antibiotic Balancing Act
If your child hasn’t been vaccinated, or gets an infection
anyway, your pediatrician will typically prescribe the antibiotic amoxicillin.
The most acute symptoms should subside within 24 to 48 hours, but since the
pain may continue for several days, acetaminophen and warm compresses may help
relieve discomfort.
Make sure to administer the antibiotics for the prescribed
time, or the infection might stick around, and your baby could need a new round
of antibiotics, possibly a different kind, such as Ceclor, Augmentin, Ceftin,
and Rocephin.
