Take this Quiz:Test your Knowledge of Ear Infections

On May 3, 2011, in Chronic Ear Infections, by linda

Do you always know when your children have middle ear infections? Is it crucial to see a doctor right away if you see your toddler tugging at his ear, complaining of ear ache, fussing or coughing?

The symptoms of middle ear infection, according to Dr. Sears, are:

Cold symptoms, including green nasal discharge
Fussiness both day and night
Complaints about ear pain or hearing loss
Disinclination to lay flat
Nighttime wakefulness
Low fever
Ear drainage, such as pus or blood

Take this short test to see if you know your facts when it comes to treating children’s middle ear infections:

Question #1: True or False: An ear infection is always accompanied by cold symptoms such as runny nose, congestion and fever.

Question #2: The best treatment for middle ear infections caused by a virus is:

a) Antihistamines
b) Antibiotics
c) Ibuprofen
d) A combination of pain relievers and decongestants

Question #3: True or False: All doctors agree that antibiotics are necessary for treating bacterial ear infections.

Question #4: After 3 months, if watery fluid remains in the ear, you should:

a) Gently use a hair dryer set on low to draw moisture out of the eardrum. Repeat this procedure until ear infection symptoms disappear.
b) Apply ear drops made with a combination of rubbing alcohol and vinegar three times per day.
c) Use a cotton swab to carefully absorb fluids from the inner ear canal. If symptoms persist, use of an ear candle will efficiently draw out any residual moisture.
d) Minor surgery is required. See a physician.

Question #5: Complications which may be caused by long-term chronic ear infections include:

a) Hearing loss and tinnitus caused by inner ear damage
b) Delayed language or speech development
c) Epidural abscess
d) All of the above

Answers:

Question #1: The correct answer is: False. Ear infections are not always easy to detect; sometimes they develop as a side effect of common cold and flu symptoms like wheezing, sniffling, sore throat and cough, as fluid created by sinus congestion leaks from the eustachian tube which runs from the middle ear to the back of the throat. However, if your child has ear pain, don’t rule out an ear infection just because he doesn’t seem to have a cold. Sometimes even small amounts of moisture in the inner ear can cause chafing which can later lead to an ear infection.

Please read: Chronic Ear Infections Linked to Childhood Obesity

Question #2: The correct answer is: d) a combination of pain relievers of decongestants. If your child has a virus, then antibiotics are useless to fight the ear infection, and will only serve to make your child more resistant to antibiotic medication. The only way to treat a middle ear infection caused by a virus is to treat the symptoms. If your child has sinus congestion, then some junior-strength antihistamines will help to dry out the inner ear canal. For fevers with ear infections, doctors recommend ibuprofen to alleviate pain and reduce fever.

Question #3: The correct answer is: False. The antibiotic controversy is still in full swing. A growing number of physicians that antibiotics have little or no effect on treating the symptoms of middle ear infection, and that overuse of antibiotics will result in a gradual resistance to medications such as Amoxicillin, as well as encourage the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Question #4: The correct answer is: d) Minor surgery is required. See a physician. Your child’s pediatrician might recommend a myringotomy with PE (pressure equalizing) tube insertion surgery for drainage of the infected inner ear. Other possible surgeries might include mastoidectomy, adenoidectomy or repair of the eardrum and inner ear bones. Never insert any foreign object in the ear. While using a hair dryer to remove moisture caused by a minor swimmer’s ear infection is helpful, it is neither an appropriate or sufficient treatment for chronic ear infections.

Question #5: The correct answer is: d) All of the above. Left untreated, chronic ear infections can cause permanent inner ear damage, resulting in hearing-related conditions such as partial or complete hearing loss and tinnitus. The symptoms of tinnitus are constant sounds which emanate from the inner ear and are not associated with any actual noise outside the body. Tinnitus ear noises are usually described as ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, chirping or whooshing sounds. The volume, pitch and frequency of tinnitus symptoms vary according to the severity of the inner ear damage.

Please read: When Children Suffer Tinnitus and Hearing Loss