An ear infection, known as Otitis Media (OM), is prevalent among children and adults alike. In infants, it occurs due to bacterial or viral entrapment, leading to inflammation and fluid buildup behind the eardrum. While many infections resolve naturally, some infants may require treatment with antibiotics or pain-relief infant ear drops. Lets explore the main forms of treatment of ear infections.
What is the Treatment of Ear Infection in Infants?
Ear infections can go away on their own without treatment, and the doctor may suggest you supervise the child with over-the-counter pain relievers. The doctor usually avoids prescribing antibiotics to infants because the use of antibiotics against bacteria makes them resistant to that antibiotic in the long run. Moreover, your doctor decides your treatment based on the child’s age, degree of pain, and presenting symptoms. Lets look at the different treatements by age:
- Treatment for 6 months below infant
Babies below six months almost always receive antibiotics because, at this age, infants are not fully vaccinated, and they need infant ear infection drops. Delay in treatment may cause severe complications in the child’s eardrum because bacteria trapped behind the eardrum could spread to other parts of the body and cause serious infections.
- Treatment for 6 months to 2 years child
For children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years, a pediatrician usually recommends watching the child’s symptoms for two to three days before prescribing any antibiotic.
Children above the age of 2 years may not require the use of antibiotics to treat ear infections, and they can treated with the use of over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If there is no improvement after two to three days, then the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.
A child suffering from recurrent ear infections between the ages of 2 and 7 years may require a surgical procedure to treat the ear infection. Here, a doctor inserts a small tube in the eardrum to improve airflow and prevent fluid buildup to avoid recurrent ear infections.
Conclusion
It is important to consult a pediatrician if your child shows signs of an ear infection. The doctor will decide the treatment for ear infection based on your childs age, symptoms, and severity of infection, using over-the-counter medicine. When antibiotic ear drops for infants with ear infections are ineffective, your healthcare provider may suggest surgical procedures to treat the condition. You can opt for a health insurance policy covering medical expenses to plan your treatment.