How Can You Treat An Ear Infection Without Antibiotics

Fluid Or Pus Draining From Your Childs Ear:

While not very common, this is a definite sign of infection, so call the doctor right away. Yellow, white, or green drainage from the ear can signal a perforated eardrum, a condition that can develop if the fluid in the middle ear puts so much pressure on the eardrum that it bursts.

Although a burst eardrum may sound scary and can be very painful for your child, the hole is not serious and will usually heal by itself. And the good news is that your child may start to feel better as fluid drains and pressure decreases.

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Duration Of Antibiotic Treatment

If a child needs antibiotics for acute otitis media, the drugs should be taken for the following periods of time:

• A 10-day course of antibiotics is usually recommended for children younger than 2 years of age, and for those with severe symptoms.
• A 7-day course is recommended for children 2 to 5 years of age with mild or moderate AOM.
• A 5 to 7-day course is recommended for children 6 years of age and older with mild-to-moderate symptoms.

Parents should be sure their child finishes the entire course of therapy.

Stop Recurring Pediatric Ear Infections Without Antibiotics

Pediatric ear infections: not fun for anyone! Between the late nights, crying, aching, and pain, pediatric ear infections can be pretty rough on a household. Yet, pediatric ear infections are incredibly common. Five out of six children have at least one ear infection by the time they reach three years old. Not to mention, many children suffer from recurring ear infections, repeating this cycle up to five or even six times a year.

As a parent, you may feel a bit powerless if youre watching your child suffer from recurrent ear infections. However, you do have more treatment options than you may realize.

Antibiotics, the most common treatment, arent always the best option for children with recurring ear infections natural, preventative measures may be equally beneficial to your child and help disrupt the infection cycle.

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When Should I Call The Doctor

• has other serious medical problems,
• seems ill,
• vomits over and over,
• is younger than 6 months old,
• is older than 6 months old and has had a fever for more than 48 hours,
• has swelling behind the ear,
• is very sleepy,
• has a skin rash,
• isnt hearing well or at all,
• remains in a lot of pain despite at least one dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen, or
• still has an earache after 2 days of treatment with acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

What You Should Not Do To Soothe A Cold Or Ear Infection:

• Do not give over-the-counter cold medicines to children under age 2. Consider avoiding them if the child is older, too.
• Do not tilt an infants crib mattress. Children under age 1 should sleep on a flat mattress with no pillows or blankets.
• Do not allow a child to drink while lying down, as it can increase the chances of getting an ear infection.
• Do not smoke. Families and caregivers who smoke increase a childs chance of getting colds and ear infections.

Because young children get more colds in the winter, they may also develop more ear infections. Five out of six children will experience at least one ear infection by the time they are 3 years old, according to the National Institutes of Health.

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What You Can Do To Soothe A Cold Or Ear Infection:

• Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce fever and head pressure.
• Try a cool-mist humidifier or shower steam to loosen congestion.
• Try over-the-counter saline drops to clear the nose.
• Consider sinus rinses or devices to remove mucus from young childrens noses.
• For children older than age 1, honey in warm water can soothe a cough.
• For older children, an extra pillow under their head can help them sleep better.

Cause Of Ear Infections

• A bacterial infection of the middle ear
• Blocked eustachian tube, usually as part of a common cold. The eustachian tube joins the middle ear to the back of the throat.
• Blockage results in middle ear fluid .
• If the fluid becomes infected , the fluid turns to pus. This causes the eardrum to bulge out and can cause a lot of pain.
• Ear infections peak at age 6 months to 2 years. They are a common problem until age 8.
• The onset of ear infections is often on day 3 of a cold.
• How often do kids get ear infections? 90% of children have at least 1 ear infection. Frequent ear infections occur in 20% of children. Ear infections are the most common bacterial infection of young children.

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What Is My Doctor Looking For

Your doctor will ask you about any symptoms youâve had. Be sure to come to the office with any notes you might need and questions on your mind.

She will look at the eardrum with an instrument called an otoscope for signs of infection. This is a tough task with a fussy infant, so be ready to help calm the little one if itâs your child with the earache.

Signs of infection include a red eardrum or a bulging eardrum with fluid behind it. The fluid may be thin like during a cold, or thick like pus. It is located in the middle ear, just behind the ear drum. Otitis media means inflammation of the middle ear. A puffer attached to the otoscope blows air to see if your thin eardrum moves. With fluid in the middle ear, the eardrum is more rigid and doesn’t move back and forth.

She might also look for signs of infection with another instrument. Itâs called a tympanometer, and it uses sound and air pressure to check for fluid in the middle ear.

When Should I See A Doctor

A mild ear infection may go away on its own. But most cases of moderate to severe ear pain require a visit to your doctor. You should also see your doctor if youre experiencing ear discharge, fever, or chills.

Children with ear infections may constantly cry due to pain and discomfort. They might also tug or pull at the affected ear. See your doctor if symptoms dont improve within , or if they get worse.

Other signs that you should see a pediatrician include:

• fever of 102.2°F or higher

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When To Call The Doctor For An Ear Infection

Some symptoms of an inner ear infection can be the same as a stroke. If you have vomiting, headache, vision changes, fever, weakness in one side of your body, slurred speech or are unable to walk, seek medical care right away.

Infections involving high fever, discharge or bleeding from the ear canal, headache, vomiting, dizziness, loss of hearing, or severe pain should be seen by a doctor. A doctor should see most people with an inner ear infection.

Symptoms Of Ear Infection

Babies and small children might:

• pull or rub their ear
• have a high temperature
• have redness around the ear
• be restless or irritable
• not respond to noises that would normally attract their attention

See your doctor if:

• your child is in pain
• there is discharge from the child’s ear
• your child is unwell or vomiting
• your child can’t hear properly
• there is swelling behind the ear and the ear is being pushed forward
• your child keeps getting ear infections

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What Is The Inner Ear

Your inner ear plays an important role in your hearing and balance. Its primary function is to receive sound waves that come in through the outer ear and go through the middle ear, where the sound makes your eardrum vibrate. These vibrations travel to the inner ear, which transmits them to the brain as nerve impulses.

Your inner ear is a labyrinth of fluid-filled tubes and sacs. It has three main parts:

• The cochlea, a shell-shaped structure that sends sound impulses to the brain
• The semicircular canals, which use your heads movement to sense your position in space
• The vestibule, which is your primary balance system

Messages run through this system to the brain by way of the vestibulocochlear nerve. This nerve has two branches. One is responsible for hearing and one for balance. An inner ear infection happens when this nerve or the structures around it get irritated or inflamed.

Kids’ Ear Infections: Antibiotics Vs Waiting

Less Aggressive Treatment for Otitis Media Gains Ground With Parents and Doctors

June 6, 2005 — U.S. doctors usually treat kids’ middle ear infections — otitis media — with antibiotics. That may be changing, new studies show

The first study, a clinical trial, shows that immediate antibiotic treatment results in fewer symptoms in the first 10 days. But simply watching and waiting to see if the infection gets worse worked too — and it cut antibiotic use by two-thirds. Thirty days after the first doctor visit, the cure rate was the same in the immediate treatment and watchful-waiting groups.

The second study surveyed parents and doctors in six Massachusetts communities. About a third of parents said they’d be satisfied with their kids’ otitis media treatment if their doctors advised watching and waiting. But 40% said this would not be satisfactory. Meanwhile, 38% of doctors said they never used watching and waiting for otitis media. Only 6% said they did it most of the time, while 39% reported occasional use.

Both studies appear in the June issue of Pediatrics.

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Can I Treat An Ear Infection At Home

You can treat some outer and middle ear infections at home with remedies and over-the-counter medication for symptoms like pain and inflammation.

Swimmers ear home treatment

Usually, prolonged and recurrent immersion in water causes outer ear infections. The primary treatment for swimmers ear is to avoid getting water in the ear canal until the ear pain is gone.

An outer ear infection may take several days to heal, but the pain usually is gone within one week. Moreover, the warmer the water, the higher the likelihood of getting swimmers ear, for example, people who swim in the summer are more likely to develop an outer ear infection than wintertime surfers.

Middle ear infection home treatment

Numerous studies have shown that viruses cause middle ear infections. Pain management for ear pain for two or three days will allow the bodys natural immune system to fight and cure the infection, much like the common cold. However, some people with middle ear infections may need to see a doctor or other health-care professional for medical treatment.

Inner ear infection and labyrinthitis home treatment

Inner ear infections and labyrinthitis usually treat inner ear infections in adults and children.

Antibiotics and outer ear infections

Antibiotics and middle ear infections

Antibiotics and inner ear infections

• Inner ear infections are rare, and usually need to be treated by an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist.

How Do You Prevent Ear Infections

You may be able to prevent ear some ear infections if you:

• Use earplugs when swimming or diving
• Dry ears thoroughly after swimming
• Never use cotton swabs inside the ear canal
• Wash hands properly to prevent the spread of viruses
• Use soap and warm water and wash for at least 20 seconds

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Should My Child See Her Pediatrician For An Ear Infection

In some cases with older babies and toddlers, mild symptoms may go away on their own. But if your child is under 6 months old, has a high fever, severe pain, drainage or swelling in the ear, its time to call your pediatrician. However, your doctor wont necessarily prescribe antibiotics right away. Ear infections are caused by both bacteria and viruses, so antibiotics arent always the solution. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, there are several reasons why doctors dont prescribe antibiotics for every ear infection:

• Antibiotics dont work for ear infections caused by viruses.
• Antibiotics dont help the pain associated with ear infections
• Infections from both viruses and bacteria often disappear without antibiotics in a few days, especially in children over two years old.
• Physicians are keenly aware that the overprescription of antibiotics makes vital medicines less effective, so we work hard to use them only when truly necessary. In many cases, your doctor will watch the infection for a few days to see if it goes away on its own.

Who Is Most Likely To Get An Ear Infection

Middle ear infection is the most common childhood illness . Ear infections occur most often in children who are between age 3 months and 3 years, and are common until age 8. Some 25% of all children will have repeated ear infections.

Adults can get ear infections too, but they dont happen nearly as often as they do in children.

Risk factors for ear infections include:

• Age: Infants and young children are at greater risk for ear infections.
• Family history: The tendency to get ear infections can run in the family.
• Colds: Having colds often increases the chances of getting an ear infection.
• Allergies: Allergies cause inflammation of the nasal passages and upper respiratory tract, which can enlarge the adenoids. Enlarged adenoids can block the eustachian tube, preventing ear fluids from draining. This leads to fluid buildup in the middle ear, causing pressure, pain and possible infection.
• Chronic illnesses: People with chronic illnesses are more likely to develop ear infections, especially patients with immune deficiency and chronic respiratory disease, such as cystic fibrosis and asthma.
• Ethnicity: Native Americans and Hispanic children have more ear infections than other ethnic groups.

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Symptoms Of Outer Ear Infections In Young Children

If you have a child who is not old enough to be able to tell you that their ear hurts, there are some signs that you should look out for, in case theyre indicative of an outer ear infection:

• If your child tugs or scratches their ear
• If your child suddenly has trouble balancing
• If your child doesnt appear to hear you when they usually would
• If your child is uncomfortable resting their head on one side

How To Use Ear Drops

Prior to using ear drops, you should always read the instructions provided to you with your prescription. You can also speak to your pharmacist or doctor for advice on using them. The following instructions will help you use ear drops correctly.

For adults:

• Lie down on a flat surface with a folded towel beneath your head and the affected ear facing the ceiling.
• Pull your earlobe up to straighten out the ear canal.
• Administer the appropriate number of drops into the ear.
• Push the ear flap gently to help ease the drops into the ear.
• Remain in this position for up to two minutes to ensure that the ear canal is fully coated with medicine.

For children:

• Have the child lie on the floor or bed with a towel beneath their head and their affected ear facing the ceiling.
• Hold their head still if they are squirming or fidgeting.
• Pull the earlobe out and down to straighten their ear canal..
• Administer the recommended number of drops
• Press on their ear flap or place a cotton ball gently into the ear and let it remain in position for several minutes to ensure that the medication coats the inside of their ear.

The process for infants is similar to children, but you can also cradle your infant while you administer the drops in an appropriate position that allows the medication to go into their ear properly.

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Turmeric On How To Treat Bacterial Infection

Along with ginger, turmeric is also known as an effective natural home remedy for many health issues. In fact, there are a lot of studies that shows the great effect of this ingredient for health and beauty, generally. Among them, the ability to fight against bacteria is worth considering.

Especially, people know that turmeric is the excellent treatment for cancerous tumors. The possible reason may be that curcumin in turmeric has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties . Moreover, using turmeric paste, which is made from ground turmeric, can be effective in treating bacterial skin infections. You should apply this paste on the affected areas in order to soothe the effects. Finally, after a few minutes, wash off with the warm water.

For more information about the benefits of turmeric for health and beauty, you can click at Benefits Of Turmeric

Honey Effective Remedy For Bacterial Infection

You may have heard about the benefits of honey for health and beauty but may not know about its antibacterial functions. The benefits of organic honey are various so that you can discover them gradually. In fact, honey can not only treat respiratory and skin infection but also cool the affected areas simultaneously. You can drink organic honey along with a glass of warm water to soothe and reduce the sore, irritated throat caused by a cough. If you have open wound, scratches or cuts on the skin, the good way to prevent any bad bacteria from entering through the wound is applying honey on the affected areas as the initial treatment.

It would be a pity if you do not click at Honey For Skin to get many skin care recipes with honey.

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