Ear infections are common in children, but recognising them can be challenging.

“It all comes down to anatomy. The small passages which connect our middle ear to our nasopharynx, or upper throat, called the eustachian tubes, regulate pressure in the middle ear and facilitate fluid drainage,” said Dr Muhammed Ra’ees Vally, a general practitioner (GP) practising at Netcare Medicross Roodepoort.

“In children, this tube is shorter, narrower, and more horizontal, which increases the risk of blockage due to impaired drainage and allows for nasal secretions to flow more readily back up the eustachian tubes. As a result, infections affecting the nose and throat of children can easily reach the middle ear,” explained Dr Vally.

When the eustachian tubes are blocked by inflammation or mucus, fluid builds up, creating the perfect environment for bacteria and viruses to grow—causing pain and discomfort, and in some cases, leading to complications.

“We need to be able to recognise signs of ear infections in our little ones, which is a task unto itself as small children, especially those who have not yet learnt to walk, let alone talk, have a limited vocabulary, if any, and a simple phrase like ‘My ear is sore’ could be well beyond them,” said Dr Vally.

“If we’re lucky, as parents we might see the child gesture to their ear, but we need to be alert to other subtle clues that a child could be experiencing the discomfort of an ear infection,” he said.

Signs to watch out for:

According to Dr Vally, ear infections are often preceded by cold or flu symptoms like a blocked nose, poor appetite, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

“When the infection spreads to the ear, look for additional symptoms of tugging or pulling on the ear, irritability, crying, difficulty feeding, restlessness at night, fever, loss of balance, and reduced hearing or response to sound,” advised Dr Vally.

“The most straightforward sign to spot may be fluid draining from the ear, which is a symptom that typically appears only at the end of the illness,” he pointed out.

If you notice any of these signs, it’s a good idea to see a doctor sooner rather than later. Early treatment can help prevent more serious issues and ease your child’s discomfort.”

There are many ways parents can help reduce the risk of ear infections:

• Practise good hygiene: regular hand washing, surface sanitising, and covering mouths when coughing or sneezing
• Ensure proper ventilation indoors
• Keep up with your child’s immunisations
• Provide a healthy, balanced diet to support immunity
• Wean off pacifiers by six months of age
• Keep children away from second-hand smoke
• Use a humidifier during dry seasons
• Manage allergies
• Keep ears clean and dry (avoid using cotton buds or fingers)

tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus 

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