Ear infection in children and babies

Symptoms and identification of ear infection

A child's ear infection can be difficult to identify, as its symptoms, such as restlessness at night and crying, are also common symptoms of a common cold. Ear pain is not always a direct sign of ear infection, as it can also be caused, for example, by eustachian tube dysfunction or pharyngitis. A diagnosis requires a doctor’s assessment, and you should not try to diagnose it yourself at home.

Symptoms of ear infection may vary according to the age and type of infection. Typical ear infection symptoms include:

• Ear pain: This is one of the most common symptoms and can be throbbing or sharp and often gets worse when lying down.
• Restlessness at night and waking up: Particularly in young children, ear pain can cause restless sleep and waking up at night.
• Fever: Ear infection may raise the body temperature, which can cause the child to have a fever.
• Hearing loss: Infection can cause temporary hearing loss in the infected ear.
• Fluid from the ear: If the eardrum is ruptured, clear or cloudy pus may leak from the ear.
• Irritability and restlessness: A child may be more irritable or restless than usual due to ear pain.
• Runny nose and cough: Ear infection is often associated with respiratory track infections, so runny nose and cough are common symptoms.
• Loss of appetite and vomiting: In young children, ear pain can affect appetite and cause nausea or vomiting.

If you suspect an ear infection, it is important to seek medical attention so that the child receives the correct diagnosis and necessary treatment.

Treatment of ear infections

Ear infections are sometimes treated with antibiotics, but often they heal without treatment. If antibiotic therapy is not initiated, the symptoms of infection will be treated with painkillers and monitored for a few days. Especially in older children who can tell about their pain, treatment without an antibiotic may be a good option, as long as the recovery is well monitored.

The infection is treated symptomatically with painkillers and good hydration. The child may feel better with nasal spray, nose drops or saline spray, even if they do not speed up the healing of the infection itself.

Painkillers can relieve the symptoms. Anaesthetic ear drops can also help with pain management. If the condition of your child does not improve or the child has a high fever, you should seek medical attention. The ear infection can be reliably diagnosed at the doctor’s appointment and, if necessary, antibiotic treatment can be started.

Symptomatic treatment:

• Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can relieve pain and reduce fever.
• Anaesthetic ear drops can provide quick relief from ear pain.
• Nasal sprays, nose drops or saline sprays can make you feel better, even if they do not speed up the healing of the infection.

Antibiotic therapy:

• Sometimes, especially in bacterial ear infections, antibiotics can be prescribed.
• Antibiotic therapy is not always started immediately, but the situation can be monitored for a few days, especially if the child is older and capable of describing the symptoms.

Recurring ear infections:

• If your child has recurrent ear infections, inserting ear tubes is one alternative to aid middle ear ventilation and prevent recurrence of infections.
• In addition, the size of the pharyngeal tonsils can be checked and, if necessary, removed, even if it does not directly prevent ear infections.

Ear tubes:

• Insertion of ear tubes is a common procedure that is usually done under general anaesthesia.
• During the procedure, a small incision is first made in the eardrum, secretion is sucked out and the tube is inserted.
• The procedure is quick and the child can return home on the same day.
• The success of the tubing is monitored by follow-up appointments.

Preventing ear infections

Preventing the spread of cold viruses is the key to avoiding ear infections. Hand hygiene, influenza vaccine and pneumococcal vaccination are effective ways to protect yourself against ear infection. The risk of ear infection can also be reduced by quitting parental smoking and using xylitol regularly.

When should you see a doctor for an ear infection?

Ear pain often starts at night and treatment does not require immediate medical attention . It is therefore possible to postpone the visit until the morning, for example.

In case of prolonged illness, it is advisable to see a doctor who will see if the illness has caused a discharging ear infection. It can sometimes be followed by the development of a so-called glue ear, where the middle ear accumulates resilient secretion, which causes difficulties in hearing.

Examining an ear may feel unpleasant to a young child, but it is harmless and usually painless. The adult just needs to hold the child firmly in their arms so that the doctor can quickly look into the child’s ear.

The doctor can assess whether antibiotic treatment is needed or whether symptomatic treatment is sufficient.