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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(NC)-Many parents have experienced the agony of having their babies and young children go through the pain of a middle ear infection.
The anxiety associated with the infection is often compounded by the fact that they can reoccur and cause on-going problems with hearing - potentially affecting the child's speech and language skills.
Middle ear infections, or acute otitis media, are extremely common in babies and young children since the tubes in children's ears are smaller and shorter than those of adults. Over 70 per cent of children will have at least one ear infection before their third birthday.
If your child is prone to infections, their doctor may recommend the insertion of tympanostomy tubes (tiny tubes surgically implanted in the middle ear) to decrease the chance of future ear infections, repair short-term hearing loss caused by middle ear fluid and reduce the chance of speech problems.
Although tubes can provide relief from chronic ear infections, it is advised your child avoid getting water in their ears while swimming or bathing. Specialty ear plugs or other water-tight devices can reduce the chance of infection.
If infection occurs, talk to your child's doctor to determine the best way to treat and manage your child's middle ear infections with tubes.
The recommended treatment for any further bacterial infection is a class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones administered in ear drop format. These ear drops are easy to use, quick to treat the infection and combined with an agent that reduces swelling, meaning the antibiotic can get to the source of the infection.
Dr. Michael Hawke is an ear, nose and throat specialist who practices in Toronto. He is a professor in the Department of Otolaryngology of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
An international authority on ear disease, Dr. Hawke has published 12 textbooks on diseases of the ears, nose and throat; several of which have been translated into other languages.
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