Ear Infection in Infants:

Ear infections commonly occur in infants and can prove to be quite discomforting. Ear infections usually develop after a cold and if the nasal discharge turns from clear to greenish yellow, then it could be indicative of an ear infection. The infant is likely to be very irritable and fussy throughout the day. Sleep may be poor and the infant may keep waking up at night. The child may also be unwilling to lie flat on his back. The infant may also keep pulling or tugging at the ears and fever may sometimes accompany an ear infection. Drainage of blood or pus from the ear is a sure sign of an infection due to a rupture in the ear drum.

The ear is composed of the outer ear, middle ear and the inner ear. The outer and middle ear canal are separated by a thin membrane. The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back portion of the nose. The eustachian tube in infants is shorter and placed at an angle. As such bacteria are able to easily travel upwards from the throat and nose to the middle ear and cause infection. Infants are also very prone to colds, which cause swelling of the nasal pathway due to the accumulation of mucus. This serves as an ideal place for the bacteria to thrive. Mucus is also present in the middle ear canal and once bacteria reach there, they begin to grow and cause infection. This results in pus formation which may cause the eardrum to swell and cause pain. It also restricts the normal vibration of the ear drum, causing problems in hearing.
Ear infections in infants and children must not be neglected, as they can become aggravated and cause a great deal of pain and irritation for the child. Once the doctor has administered the treatment, you can also try out some natural remedies for alleviating the child’s discomfort. Placing a warm compress against the child’s ear will help to relieve the pain. Drops of tea tree oil put in the ears are effective in restricting bacterial growth. But you need to check with your doctor before doing this, as it may cause irritation of the skin. Olive oil may be warmed slightly and a couple of drops can be put into the affected ear. Lobelia extract is also known to be beneficial in treating ear infections when applied to the ears. The juice of mango leaf is a traditional remedy for ear infections cure. The juice may be warmed slightly and put into the affected ear. The juice of crushed holy basil leaves also serves to overcome infection of the ear.