How to Keep Your Child’s Cold from Becoming an Ear Infection

Colds keep children home from school all the time, and when you hear the coughing, sniffling, and other symptoms, you know it’s time to get them into bed and work on relieving the symptoms. 

Over 100 rhinoviruses cause this highly contagious illness, and each one has different severities. Ear infections are one of several possible complications from a bad cold, which can make your child even more miserable. Fortunately, there are ways to help reduce the risk of that problem developing.

Dr. John Monroe and the dedicated staff at Healthy Life Family Medicine work to assist residents of Goodyear, Arizona, with a range of acute illnesses, including colds and ear infections.

How colds lead to ear infections

Typically, colds last between 3 and 10 days, with common symptoms including nasal congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, a sore throat, and coughing. However, unless the symptoms are severe, the illness usually runs its course and resolves on its own.

During colds or even sinus infections, fluid can get trapped behind the eardrum, where bacteria and viruses can grow and cause problems in one or both ears. This leads to feelings of fullness or pressure in the ears, muffled hearing, drainage of fluid, and pain.

Reasons they happen in children

The middle ear often gets infected, which occurs in the space behind the eardrum, referred to as acute otitis media. Eustachian tubes usually drain secretions from your ear, but with infections in the area, the tubes become swollen and blocked, trapping fluid and causing pain.

The risks of this happening are greater in children because their ears are still developing and the eustachian tubes are not as large as they are in adults, making blockage more likely to happen. 

Infants and children between six months and two years are especially susceptible to ear infections. Group child care with a child who is sick with a cold is contagious and increases the risk.

Methods of prevention

To lower the chances of dealing with an ear infection, wash your hands and your children’s hands frequently, avoid crowded areas where infections are more likely, and refrain from touching objects that may be infected, such as pacifiers. Additionally, consider breastfeeding. 

Also, update immunizations regularly. You should avoid smoking and secondhand smoke, and get medical help if your child has severe pain, hearing loss, a fever of 102.2℉ or higher, or ear drainage, pus, or discharge.

Ear infections can be miserable for children, but there are steps you can take to help alleviate their pain. Make an appointment with Dr. Monroe and Healthy Life Family Medicine today to help manage and prevent problems with colds and ear infections.