Middle ear infection in children and babies
At three o'clock in the morning the night was over. My little one was standing by the bed, crying his right ear. There it was again, the hated middle ear infection that is already plaguing infants, and which frequently occurs in children between the ages of four and six. Now it was first time to bridge the next hours until morning without too much horror. Nasal drops and onion packets were used, both of which have already proven themselves with his big brother.
Symptoms of middle ear infection
The ENT doctor explained how the ear is built up. From the middle ear, an air-filled cavity, there is an air passage leading into the nasopharynx. This air duct also has a name: Eustachian tube. The task of the Eustachian tube is to ventilate the middle ear, to balance the pressure and to ensure that secretions can drain away. Now get viruses or bacteria, for example, through the nasopharyngeal space in this Eustachian tube, then it swells. The inflammation can not drain through the middle ear. It comes to stabbing or throbbing earache, the children describe us. From puberty towards adulthood, it is less likely to cause inflammation of the middle ear, since the eustachian tube now has a length of 3.5 cm and is no longer as narrow as in children.
What to do when it is time again?
My boys always go out in the evening or at night. I will not find a doctor until the next day. Now I know that half of all middle ear infections are caused by viruses. It works with decongestant nose drops and a pain juice or suppositories. I always have nasal drops in our medicine chest, I usually do without the painkiller if I have a middle ear infection and instead help me or the boys with a small onion packet.
Recipe for the onion packet
There are different ways in which such an onion packet or onion bag comes about. I cut an onion very small, give it without oil briefly in the pan and heat it. Then the pieces come in a tea towel and I fold the whole thing into a packet. If it is still too hot, I wait a few minutes, until I can put it to my ears without any problems. My big one has always put the whole thing under a cap, the little one puts it on a sheet and presses his ear on it. Then I put a towel between the onions and the bed sheet and then it is time to wait and drink tea until the onion fumes have their analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.
The morning after
After a hard night my little one can sleep now. The swelling of the mucous membranes has gone back. In two to three days, the inflammation should have subsided further. Until then, I put the small patient twice a day for 10 minutes in front of the red light and continue to put my own onion packets of homemade production several times a day for half an hour on the affected ear. I continue to give the nose drops. Of course, the doctor will also look at the redness.
Middle ear infection in the baby
Already infants can get a middle ear infection, for example, when amniotic fluid has come into the Eustachian tube. Experts also advise to breastfeed babies, as the breast milk antibodies to various pathogens from the mother to the child. This should also be an infection protection against a middle ear infection. In any case applies: Runs liquid from the ear, then quickly to the doctor.
