If you believe that antibiotics should be avoided if at all possible, then this article is for you. We are providing you with valuable information on fighting different ailments naturally. From an ear infection, to bronchitis, to a sinus infection, to strep throat. Many times these ailments are fought with antibiotics. Since many believe that antibiotics are overused at best and they are losing their effectiveness, we want you to have options!
What is an ear infection?
Middle ear infections, also known as otitis media, according to Mayo clinic, are among the most common illnesses of early childhood. Three out of four children have had at least one ear infection by age 3, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
Although ear infections worry parents and make children uncomfortable, most ear infections clear up on their own within a few days. Most children stop having ear infections by age 4 or 5.
Adults rarely get middle ear infections. The treatments for adult ear infections are similar to those for children, although surgery is seldom necessary.
Ear infection Symptoms
Ear infections in children can be hard to detect, especially if your child is too young to say, “My ear hurts.” Knowing what to look for can help. Children with ear infections may:
* Complain of pain in their ears
* Tug or pull at their ears
* Cry more than usual
* Have trouble sleeping
* Fail to respond to sounds
* Be unusually irritable
* Develop a fever of 100 F (38 C) or higher
* Develop a clear fluid that drains from the ears
* Have headaches
Don’t stick anything in your child’s ears to check for an ear infection.
Adults who have a middle ear infection may have these symptoms:
* Earache
* Fever of 100 F (38 C) or higher
* A feeling of blockage in the ear
* Dizziness
* Temporary hearing loss
When to see a doctor
Ear infections aren’t usually an emergency — but they can make you or your child uncomfortable. If the signs and symptoms last longer than a day, call a doctor. In children younger than age 2, watch for sleeplessness and irritability after an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold.
If you see a discharge of blood or pus from the ear, call your family doctor or pediatrician. This could mean your child has a ruptured eardrum. While this might seem like an urgent emergency, the rupture of the eardrum may actually relieve your child’s pain, and you can usually safely see the doctor within a day or two for treatment.
If your child has been diagnosed with an ear infection, call the doctor if your child’s signs and symptoms don’t improve or they get worse after three days.
What Causes an ear infection
Ear infections usually start with a viral infection, such as a cold. The middle ear lining becomes swollen from the viral infection, and fluid builds up behind the eardrum.
Ear infections can also be associated with blockage or swelling in the narrow passageways that connect the middle ear to the nose (eustachian tubes). When fluid gets trapped in the middle ear when the eustachian tubes become blocked during a cold, it can cause ear pain and infection.
Because children’s eustachian tubes are narrower and shorter than those of adults, they are more likely to develop ear infections than do adults.
Another factor in ear infections is swelling of the adenoids. These are tissues located in the upper throat near the eustachian tubes. Adenoids contain cells that normally fight infection. But sometimes the adenoids themselves get infected or enlarged, blocking the eustachian tubes. Infection in the adenoids can also spread to the eustachian tubes.
In addition, children don’t have fully developed immune systems. So it’s easier for them to develop many illnesses, including colds and ear infections.
Risk factors
Major risk factors for middle ear infections in children include:
* Age. Children between ages 6 and 18 months are the most susceptible to ear infections, although ear infections are common from ages 4 months to 4 years.
* Group child care. Children cared for in group settings are more likely to get colds and ear infections than are children who stay home, because they’re exposed to more viruses causing colds, which may then cause or complicate an ear infection.
* Feeding position. Babies who drink from a bottle while lying down tend to have more ear infections than do babies who are held upright during feedings.
Both children and adults are affected by these risk factors:
* Season. Ear infections are most common during the fall and winter. Sometimes, seasonal allergies may also congest your sinuses, making you or your child more likely to develop a middle ear infection.
* Reduced air quality. Children exposed to tobacco smoke or higher levels of air pollution are at higher risk of ear infections.
* Family history. Your child’s risk of ear infections increases if another member of the family has had ear infections.
* Race. American Indians and Inuits from Alaska or Canada tend to have more ear infections.
Natural Remedy
Take all the supplements listed below. Read http://www.ifoundthecure.com/health-rescources/ first before you take any supplements, herbs, or holistic remedies. Some supplements can be of great help but some supplements can be a waste of money, so please read http://www.ifoundthecure.com/health-rescources/
In addition, we previously had a post on remedies for ear infections. Please read that post at http://www.ifoundthecure.com/category/ear-infections/ and follow its supplements recommendations!
In addition to those remedies, new evidence shows that the following will also need to taken:
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Spry Green Tea Xylitol Gum |
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Enzymedica – Repair Gold, 60 capsules |
Please check with your doctor before taking any supplements, and also read the warning labels on each product, especially if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Also read the labels carefully when giving your child any natural supplement, to ensure that it is safe to give a child.
