Ear Problems

If your child has fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and loss of appetite for no apparent reason and is tugging at her ear, she probably has an ear infection.

Otitis media or inflammation of the middle ear is a very common childhood ailment. A baby spends most of her time lying down. This gives ample opportunity for bacteria to travel from her nose and throat to the ear. Consequently, the mucous membranes of the Eustachian tubes (that link the middle ear to the back of the throat) become blocked and inflamed, trapping the bacteria in the middle ear where they multiply.

If you suspect that your baby has an ear infection, call the doctor. Never put anything in your baby's ear or apply hot compresses to the outside of the ear. Leave the treatment to the doctor. He will probably prescribe antibiotics to combat the infection and nose drops to treat the blockage in the Eustachian tubes.

If your child has fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and loss of appetite for no apparent reason and is tugging at her ear, she probably has an ear infection.