The hardest part of being a parent is seeing your baby cry without knowing the reason behind it. Since crying is the only way infants can communicate, this shows a sign that something could be wrong with how they feel. So, you’re worried and you try to figure out what to do. However, there could be a number of reasons why a baby cries which makes it even harder to pinpoint the real cause. He or she could be hungry, has wet diapers, wants to be held, or maybe it’s too cold or too hot. But sometimes, crying more than usual could be a result of an ear infection but how can you tell if that’s the real problem?
Because of their underdeveloped immune system and smaller size and shape of eustachian tubes, babies between 6 months and 2 years old are more likely to have an ear infection compared to older children and adults. An ear infection or otitis media occurs when a bacterial or viral infection affects the ear. It can be painful due to the inflammation and fluid buildup in the middle ear, causing the baby to cry. While there are no specific medical imaging or screening tests to diagnose this illness, doctors often use a pneumatic otoscope. It is the only specialized tool that can diagnose an ear infection. This instrument allows the doctor to look in the ear and determine whether there is fluid behind the eardrum.
Here are other common ear infection signs:
Difficulty in sleeping or lying down
Lying position causes a change in pressure in the middle ear, causing pain and discomfort to the child. As a result, children with an ear infection may experience a hard time to sleep or lie down.
Upset Stomach
The virus that causes infection in the middle ear can somehow affect the gastrointestinal tract, causing an upset stomach. The child may experience vomiting and diarrhea. Also, the difficulty in swallowing and opening of mouth due to change in pressure can cause the loss of appetite.
Ear-tugging
Children tugging at their ears do not necessarily have an ear infection. Ear tugging can be caused by different factors. Ears could be itchy, painful because of teething, or the baby could be in a state of discovering his ears and likes pulling on them. However, chances are that they might also have an ear infection. Given that the infection causes pain and discomfort, children will likely pull on their ear in an attempt to alleviate the pain.
Ear drainage
Seeing a fluid or pus draining out from the child’s ear is a certain sign of infection. Pus is characterized by a thick yellow liquid that is produced by the inner infected tissue, containing dead white blood cells and bacteria. This can also result in a ruptured eardrum which can heal on its own in a week or two.
Fever
Most ear infections occur when a child has had a cold for a few days. This may result in fever eventually. Having a fever would certainly mean that the body is working hard to fight off some infection.
Dizziness and Loss of Balance
Given that the center of balance is located in the inner ear, children with an ear infection may experience dizziness, unsteadiness, and loss of balance.
Preventive Measures for Ear Infection
Breastfeeding is an effective way of preventing ear infection signs to your baby. Breastmilk contains minerals and antibodies that can reduce the risk of ear infections. Hence, it is advised to breastfeed the babies for their first year. Otherwise, if bottle feeding is your only option, make sure to keep the baby sitting up (or hold the baby in an upright position) to avoid the milk from flowing right into the middle ear.