Ear Infection

The ear infection is caused by a stuffy runny nose and the baby cannot "pop" open the eustacian tube to get air in the middle ear and the fact that babies have low antibodies. Infections are not caused by getting water in the ear, wind blowing in the ear, or anything the parent does. Decongestants, cold meds do not help prevent them. Nothing the parent does causes them and nothing the parent does can prevent them. So get off the guilt wagon!

You can help the pain by giving pain medications(see dosage web page), by keeping the head elevated (sleep in big chair with their head on your shoulder.) (Did he say sleep?), by putting the ear next to   the warmth of  your body, or luke warm heating pad.  What really can help is to put a few drops of  luke warm  olive oil  in their ears.

Ear infections are not contagious but the green runny nose is contagious. Half of the children with pink eye have an ear infection. (Pink eye causes the white of the eyes to be red bloodshot. Just having green mucous in the corner of the eyes is not pink eye.)

If your child has very frequent ear infections ( six times a year), you and your doctor may want to talk about having PE tubes inserted in the ears.

Treatment of Ear Infections

• Ear infections can be painful. The pain may be worse when your child is sucking on the bottle or lying down. You may notice your child crying more or tugging on his/her ears. Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen) may help relieve the pain temporarily. Check with the dosage web page.
• If your child is given an antibiotic, be sure to give this exactly as you were directed. Even if your child is feeling better in a few days, be sure to give all of the doses to your child to make sure the infection has been treated completely.
• It usually takes 24 to 48 hours after you start the antibiotics for your child to feel better. If your child still has a lot of pain and or if he/she still has fever 48 hours after starting the antibiotic, call the office or come into the emergency room.

Call Your Doctor Or Return To The Emergency Room If:

• Your child appears lethargic or you can’t do anything to make him/her happy.
• Your child still has a fever or is not better after 48 hours of antibiotics.
• Your child is getting worse.
• You have any other concerns.