Recognize the 6 signs and symptoms of ear infections in children

Children have immature immune systems and they are still developing. Naturally, this makes it easier for children to get sick. One of the diseases that are prone to occur in children is ear infection. This condition usually occurs when a child has a cold or flu. What are the signs and symptoms of ear infection in children? Check out the following reviews.

Ear infections are more common in children

The body produces mucus which flows from the nose to the lungs. Its function is to keep moisture and filter out the dirt that enters when you inhale.

When a child has a cold, flu or allergies, the mucus production becomes more and more thick. These mucus changes cause a buildup in the tube that connects the middle ear and throat (eustachian tube).

Children have shorter eustachian tubes than adults. This is why it is easier for the mucus to clog the eustachian tube.

The blockage is the perfect place for bacteria to multiply and cause infection. This condition can lead to ear infections in children. There are many types of ear infections, but acute otitis media is more common in children.

Signs and symptoms of ear infections in children

Ear infections occur because of a buildup of fluid. Apart from being caused by other underlying diseases, swimming activity can also cause ear infections.

If symptoms appear that indicate an ear infection, you should immediately take your little one to the doctor to find out the right diagnosis and treatment.

There are several signs and symptoms of ear infections in children that you can look out for as follows.

1. Fever

Ear infections do occur when a child has another illness, such as a cold, flu, or sore throat. This disease can make a child have a fever. However, when an ear infection occurs, the child will experience a high enough fever, which is around 38 degrees Celsius.

2. Ear pain

Inflammation of the ear by bacteria causes swelling and pain in the ear. This is the main symptom of ear infection.

For children who cannot speak, they will usually continue to fuss and tug at their ears because of pain. However, for children who can speak, they will complain of pain in the ear.

3. Decreased appetite

The inflamed eustachian tube causes pain in the ear and can affect the child's appetite. The movement of chewing and swallowing food causes high pressure in the ear so that pain appears. This is why the child's appetite is reduced.

4. Difficulty sleeping

When sick, the child's body becomes weaker so they will choose to lie down to sleep. However, a child with an ear infection will have difficulty sleeping.

Lying your body to the side, to be precise on the part of the infected ear, causes pressure to the middle ear which makes the pain in the ear more painful. This condition will make it difficult for children to sleep because their sleeping position is more limited.

5. Difficulty hearing and maintaining balance

The sound waves you hear travel through the air. The mucus buildup in the ears disturbs the esutachian tubes to regulate the air balance. When mucus builds up, sound waves that should reach the middle ear are blocked. This is why the child feels bindeng ear and is not responsive to sound.

Then, the middle ear which is responsible for maintaining the balance of the body is also disturbed. As a result of inflammation, the pressure on the labyrinth in the middle ear becomes greater, causing a loss of balance. This condition will make the child walk unsteadily or find it difficult to maintain his body position properly.

6. Discharge from the ear

The eustachian tube in the ear does give off an unpleasant odor. This can be smelled when you clean earwax in children. However, when an ear infection occurs, the bad smell can be smelled even though it is not being cleaned. This is the first sign of abnormal fluid in the ear.

Over time, a yellowish-white discharge will come out of the ear. This fluid is pus, which is a collection of white blood cells that fail to attack pantogens. However, these symptoms are rare and may go away when the infection is treated.