| The ear consists of three parts: the | | | | are too young to tell you where it hurts may |
| external, middle, and interior ear. The | | | | cry or pull on their ear or ears. A child |
| external ear also consists of three parts-the | | | | with an ear infection, regardless of age, may |
| auricle, the auditory canal, and the tympanic | | | | show signs of irritability, listlessness, |
| membrane. The auricle (pronounced OR-uh-kull) | | | | have difficulty hearing and may not feel like |
| is the outermost part of the ear; the part | | | | eating or sleeping. This is particularly true |
| you can see attached to the sides of your | | | | with breastfed babies who have an ear ache. |
| head. The auricle is connected to the | | | | Because a breastfed baby suckles in a certain |
| interior parts of the ear by means of a | | | | way that is different and more difficult than |
| narrow opening called the auditory canal. At | | | | suckling from a bottle, this motion can |
| the end of the auditory canal is the tympanic | | | | irritate the baby's sore ears causing him or |
| membrane, or eardrum. | | | | her to "go off his feed." |
| | | | |
| Children who are around people who smoke are | | | | The sensation of tinnitus is the sound of |
| at a very high risk of getting ear | | | | high-pitched whistling, buzzing, ringing or |
| infections. Additionally, if they have had | | | | hissing. It can also be quite a complex |
| previous ear infections or have a family | | | | sound, like the roar of an ocean. The sounds |
| history of ear infections can increase their | | | | may be constant or come and go. |
| risk. It is no big secret that children in | | | | |
| day care are exposed to many more germs and | | | | Whatever the cause of the tinnitus, it's |
| viruses so this is a large risk. A child who | | | | almost always made worse by stress, which can |
| was premature at birth or had a low birth | | | | be physical, psychological or emotional. Some |
| weight may also be at a higher risk. | | | | people are able to live with the sound of |
| | | | their tinnitus quite happily. In others, the |
| The common Causes of Ear Infection : | | | | sound seriously interferes with their quality |
| | | | of life. The sound can be in one or both |
| The cause is a germ infecting the outer ear | | | | ears, or elsewhere in the head. |
| canal. Most often this is caused by bacteria | | | | |
| (which can be treated with antibiotics), but | | | | Surgery |
| sometimes other causes, such as fungus | | | | |
| infection, are to blame. | | | | If there is fluid in the middle ear and the |
| | | | condition persists, even with antibiotic |
| The infection can happen to anyone. Sometimes | | | | treatment, a healthcare provider may |
| a cause can be traced, such as swimming in | | | | recommend myringotomy (surgical opening of |
| infected sea water (many surfers will attest | | | | the eardrum) to relieve pressure and allow |
| to this). Most times it is not possible to be | | | | drainage of the fluid. This may or may not |
| sure why it started. Excessive sweating from | | | | involve the insertion of tympanostomy tubes |
| physical activity. | | | | (often referred to as ear tubes). In this |
| | | | procedure, a tiny tube is inserted into the |
| Symptoms | | | | eardrum, keeping open a small hole that |
| | | | allows air to get in so fluids can drain more |
| Older children can tell you that their ear | | | | easily down the eustachian tube. Tympanostomy |
| hurts. Their ear pain may also be accompanied | | | | tube insertion is done under general |
| with fever. Babies, however, and children who | | | | anesthesia. |