| | |
 |
Ask Barbara
|
|
|
|
Need advice on home safety? Ask our president
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q: Using a Heated Mat for an Outdoor Dog House |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|  | Focus on your home and safety. Take time to take the following safety quiz:
For people suffering from asthmatic symptoms:
Q: How much do you know about the
dangers of odors in confined spaces?
To know answer
click here.. |
|  | |
| Safe Home Products Safety Quiz #5: | |
|
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD EAR INFECTIONS?
|
|
1
|
True or False. Nearly half of the antibiotic prescriptions written for children in the United States are for treatment
of ear infections.
|
|
2
|
True or False. One fourth of children who have an ear infection will have repeated episodes of infection.
|
|
3
|
True or False. Ear infections are most likely between the ages of 6 months and 2 years but also continue to be
common until the age of 8 years.
|
|
4
|
True or False. All ear infections require antibiotic treatment.
|
|
5
|
True or False. Acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion require the same treatment.
|
|
6
|
True or False. Each year over 2 million children in the USA are treated for ear infections.
|
|
1
|
True
|
|
|
2
|
True
|
|
|
3
|
True
|
|
|
4
|
False
|
There is considerable controversy about using antibiotics for ear infections. One study indicates that 80%
of children who do not receive antibiotic treatment for ear infections are recovered in two weeks and 95%
of children who receive antibiotics are recovered in two weeks.
|
|
5
|
False
|
Acute otitis media is an infection that may be bacterial or viral. Otitis media with effusion means there
is fluid accumulated behind the eardrum that may be unrelated to an infection.
|
|
6
|
False
|
Over 10 million children annually in the USA are treated for ear infections.
An estimated 70% (per American Academy of Otolaryngology) of children have at least one episode of serious
otitis media before their third birthday.
|
Researching otitis media via the Internet resulted in multiple opinions and multiple
recommendations for prevention and treatment. Each approach has positives and negatives that parents
need to evaluate with input from health professionals.
Monitoring devices such as the Earscope, the EarCheck, and an electronic thermometer are tools that
make parental decisions easier:
- With the
Earscope,
parents can learn what a "normal" ear looks like for their child.
-
Ears: An Owner 's Manual
is a reader friendly, comprehensive review of common ear ailments, especially childhood ear
infections and how to use home otoscopes.
-
With the
EarCheck, parents can monitor the fluid levels in the middle ear.
- A
good digitial thermometer
helps monitor the presence or absense of fever. Parents can better decide when medical care is
needed for their children. Remember that proper use of an ear thermometer requires
touching or tugging at the ear. Consider a safe oral thermometer such as those by
Lumiscope or Timex for children old enough. Or use the Lumiscope underarm thermometer on
younger children.
|
| What is an ear infection and why is it more common in children? | |
Otitis media or an ear infection involves the middle ear, the small cavity that contains air and tiny bones
that transmit sounds to the inner ear when the ear drum (tympanic membrane) vibrates in response to sound waves.
Inflammation of the middle ear is usually 4 to 7 days after an upper respiratory tract infection such as a runny
or stuffy nose or a cough. Pus is produced within the middle ear because of invasive bacteria or viruses from
the nose. The Eustachian tube that connects the middle ear to the nose is shorter in children than in adults.
The tube also tends to be more horizontal than vertical in young children so the fluids are less likely to drain
into the nose and throat. With collection of fluids in a blocked Eustachian tube, there is a perfect place for
bacteria and viruses from an upper respiratory infection to breed, as the environment is wet and warm. With the
swelling of nasal membranes and the tube blockage, pressure builds up behind the eardrum and the ear becomes
painful and often infected. Also the eardrum cannot vibrate normally and hearing is at least temporarily impaired.
Older children often complain about ear pain or hearing loss. Younger children may be irritable, fussy, or sleep
or eat poorly or seem to have hearing problems.
Acute otitis media is common in children. Two out of three children under age three have at least one episode of
acute otitis media. Viral infections account for about 15% of the cases. The most common bacterial offenders are
streptococcus pneumonia, hemophilus influenza, and moraxella caterhalis. Antibiotics are the standard therapy.
Yet 10% of children do not respond within the first 48 hours of treatment. Even after effective antibiotic treatment,
temporary hearing loss occurs in about 40% of children because of residual fluid in the middle ear. The noninfected
fluid can remain for 3 to 6 weeks after the initial antibiotic treatment.
Otitis media with effusion means that middle ear fluid remains for 6 weeks or longer after initial acute otitis media.
Chronic otitis media is a condition that develops when infection lasts more than two weeks. The middle ear and eardrum
may begin to be damaged and occasionally the eardrum may rupture, leaving a nonhealing hole in the eardrum.
Middle ear fluid may persist for weeks or months after infection is gone. This causes a temporary hearing loss. Eventually
the fluid clears itself spontaneously.
Duration: Variable in duration, acute otitis media may improve within 48 hours even without treatment. Treatment with
antibiotics for a week to 10 days usually suffices. Fluid usually clears within 2 weeks to 2 months.
|
| What are ways to prevent ear infections in children? | |
|
1
|
Breast feeding of infants passes along immunities and the position during feeding allows for better Eustachian
tube functioning.
|
|
2
|
Hold the infant if bottle-feeding. Do not lie the child down with a bottle.
|
|
3
|
Avoid exposure to large groups of children where upper respiratory infections are more likely to develop.
|
|
4
|
Avoid exposure to environmental irritants such as secondhand tobacco smoke, pet dander, down comforters and
pillows, and other dust collectors such as carpets and draperies. Consider chemical triggers such as exposure to
formaldehyde from wood products, permanent press fabrics, etc. and test for presence in your home.
|
|
5
|
Food allergy can cause chronic rhinitis (congestion or inflammation of the nose) that can result in recurrent
otitis media. Food allergy congestion usually is throughout the year and involves more persistent nasal stuffiness
and mucous in the throat more than the watery discharges associated with pollen allergy. The most common allergenic
foods noted in a study by Nsouli et al were cow’s milk (38%), wheat (33%), egg white )(25%) peanut (20%),
and Soya (17%). An elimination diet led to a significant reduction of symptoms in 86% of the 104 children studied
with chronic serious otitis media.
|
|
6
|
Consider talking to your doctor about prophylactic (preventative) medical measures if your child has a deficient
immune system and has recurring bouts of otitis media. Options include antibiotics or insertion of a drain tube in
the eardrum.
|
|
7
|
Chiropractic care seems to help some children who have recurrent ear infections.
|
|
8
|
Learn how to massage your child’s ear to help keep the Eustachian tube open.
|
| How is an ear infection treated? | |
|
1.
|
Antibiotics raise the resolution rate of acute otitis media to 95% within 14 days according to a recent
study. In 80% of children this type of ear infection resolves
itself within 14 days without an antibiotic. Antibiotics are usually recommended by US doctors immediately to
avoid complications and the child usually feels better within a few days of the first dose.
|
|
2.
|
The entire prescription needs to be administered as directed. Otherwise the child might redevelop the same ear
infection which now is resistant to that antibiotic.
|
|
3.
|
Earaches tend to hurt more at bedtime. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used to help with ear pain or fevers
over 102° F for a few days until the antibiotic takes effect.
|
|
4.
|
Normal activities of the child including swimming are permitted as long as there is no drainage from the ear.
When the fever and severe pain are gone, the child can return to day care or school. Airplane travel is possible
but often is painful if there is fluid behind the eardrum and not advised if there is drainage.
|
|
5.
|
If your child has severe pain from a bulging eardrum, a surgical incision of the eardrum to release the pus, a
procedure called a myringotomy, might be necessary.
|
|
6.
|
Follow-up exams to the physician are important to verify that the infection is cleared up. A hearing test might
be ordered.
|
| What are some dietary guidelines for children with ear infections? | |
|
1.
|
Spring water, soups, diluted fruit juices, and herbal teas help to hydrate the older child. Breast feed
frequently for younger children.
|
|
2.
|
Dairy foods tend to thicken and increase mucus, making natural drainage of an infected ear more difficult.
So eliminate dairy foods if possible during the acute stage of infection.
|
| What Nutritional Supplements Might Speed Recovery? | |
|
1.
|
Lactobacillus acidophilus or bifidus helps to replace friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract that is often
stripped off by antibiotics.
|
|
2.
|
Vitamin C and bioflavenoids are both mildly anti-inflammatory.
|
|
3.
|
Zinc is an immune system booster that helps reduce infection.
|
| What Herbal Treatments Might Help with Recovery and Prevention? | |
|
1
|
Echinacea and golden seal combination formula helps clear infection. The Echinacea is antiviral while the
golden seal is antibacterial. Both stimulate the immune system. Liquid is preferred.
|
|
2
|
Garlic is another natural antibacterial.
|
|
3
|
Mullein oil is a traditional Native American remedy to reduce swelling and inflammation. This is used as ear oil.
|
| What Homeopathic Remedies Might Help? | |
|
1
|
Various suggested symptom specific remedies are suggested for the first 24 hours of ear pain. If they don’t
work, your physician.
|
|
1
|
The basis of chiropractic is that interference with nerves causes a chemical imbalance. When this imbalance is
corrected, the body has the ability to heal itself. Chiropractors work with tight muscles to ease the spine back
into its natural alignment. Tight muscles can cause nerves to be distressed. For example, the muscle surrounding
the Eustachian Tube can spasm and lead to reduced drainage of the tube.
|
|
2
|
In the chiropractic literature, a study is cited. In this study over an 18-year period, 4600 cases of upper
respiratory infections were studied in 100 families. The conclusion was that when spinal motion was restricted
in the upper neck area that ear infections occurred. When the spinal motion was maintained or re-established,
complication usually did not develop.
|
|
3
|
A St. Cloud chiropractor, Dr. Dennis Woggon, recently purchased his second EarCheck. He told us of an 18-month-old child
whose speech was delayed because middle ear fluid was effecting the child’s hearing following repeated ear infections.
After chiropractic adjustments, Dr. Woggon noted that within two weeks the fluid was gone and the child began to speak.
|
What Actions Might Parents take to help promote Ear Drainage
and Make the Child More Comfortable? | |
|
1
|
Promote ear drainage by propping your child at a 30° angle.
|
|
2
|
A drop or two of warm oil inserted in the ear canal helps relax and anesthetize the eardrum membrane.
|
|
3
|
A warm compress applied to the ear helps relieve pain. This could be a small hot water bottle wrapped
in a soft cover to protect from burning.
|
|
4
|
Learn how to massage the ear area to promote drainage.
|
Ear infections and ear fluid accumulation are typically medical problems of childhood
rather than adulthood. With the increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, physicians are less
eager to prescribe antibiotics than in the past. And studies show that antibiotics do not always work
and are not always necessary.
Consult your health care professional when you suspect your child has an ear infection or ear fluid
accumulation. Follow his or her advice and monitor your child’s ear problems by using appropriate
monitoring devices such as an otoscope, an EarCheck, and a thermometer, preferably an Axillary one
that will not cause the child ear discomfort. Consider the alternative medical options discussed here
and on the Internet for prevention and to speed recovery.
|
| Ear Infection Related Hyper Links: | |
| Review Other Safety Quizzes | |
| |
![[Home]](/shp2/data/menus/Non-framed_6/SHP_NF_m1_i0.png){kind=small}
