Ear Infection In Babies And Toddlers: Can A Warm Compress Help And Other Remedies

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Babies and toddlers are highly susceptible to ear infections. In fact, five out of six children will experience ear infections before reaching the age of three. The infection usually clears within a few days, and your child's ears may be painful for two or three days following the infection.

Ear infections are especially common in babies and young children between the ages of six and 18 months [1].

If your child experiences pain in his or her ears for an extended period of time, you should consult a physician. An ear infection that lasts for an extended period of time may affect your child's hearing.

Your child may develop fluid behind the eardrum if he or she has a sore throat, a cold, or an upper respiratory infection. The infection may spread to the middle ear through the eustachian tubes [2].

Symptoms Of An Ear Infection In Babies

Your baby cannot tell you what hurts when he or she has an earache. In addition, there are several other common symptoms, such as irritability, pulling or batting at the ear (note that this is an unreliable sign if your baby has no other symptoms), loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, fever, and fluid draining from the ear [3].

Infections of the ears can cause dizziness; if your child has reached the stage of wobbling, take extra precautions to prevent falls.

Home Remedies For Ear Infection In Babies

Despite the fact that ear infections can cause pain, there are measures you can take to alleviate the pain. Here are six home remedies you can use to help relieve the pain.

Warm oil: Place a few drops of warm olive oil or sesame oil in the affected ear if no fluid drains from it and a ruptured eardrum is not suspected [4].

Be sure to keep them hydrated: Drink fluids frequently to your child. Swallowing can allow the trapped fluid to drain through the eustachian tube. This helps to equalize the pressure in the middle ear and reduces the pain associated with ear infections. Staying hydrated will also help to reduce the risk of future infections [5].

Elevate the head of your baby: Elevate your baby's crib at the head so that his sinuses will be better drained. Do not place pillows under his head. Instead, place one or two pillows under the mattress. This will help to keep the baby's head and neck in a slightly elevated position in order to help the sinuses drain more effectively.

Pillows under the mattress will provide enough elevation without compromising the baby's safety [6].

Use homeopathic ear-drops: It is believed that homeopathic eardrops containing extracts of ingredients including garlic, mullein, lavender, calendula, and St. John's wort in olive oil may relieve inflammation and pain [7].

Can A Warm Compress Help With Ear Infection In Babies?

Warm compresses can be used to relieve ear pain in babies. Put a cold pack or warm compress over your child's ear.

Apply a cold, wet washcloth to the outer ear for 20 minutes to relieve pain until the pain medicine starts working. Apply a warm washcloth until it becomes cool to relieve pain [8].

The cold compress numbs the area and reduces inflammation, while the heat from the warm compress helps to soothe the pain. The warmth also helps to relax the muscles around the ear, which can further reduce the pain.

On A Final Note...

When your baby exhibits any of the following symptoms, you should consult a doctor: fever over 38°C if he or she is under three months of age, and over 39°C if he or she is older, and discharge of blood or pus from the ears.

Additionally, if your baby's symptoms do not improve after three to four days after being diagnosed with an ear infection, you should consult your physician.