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Ear infections are not uncommon in children but what can we do to prevent them? Do they always need to be treated with antibiotics? My guest today, Dr. Nicole Aaronson is discussing these topics and sharing her insight on ear infections in children.
Dr. Nicole Aaronson is board certified in both otolaryngology and pediatric otolaryngology. She takes care of kids in the clinic, OR, and hospital setting. She works at Nemours Hospital for Children – Delaware Valley at the main hospital in Wilmington, DE, and the ambulatory surgery center in Deptford, NJ.
In today’s episode we discuss why children are prone to ear infections, how to prevent them, when to treat and when to watch and wait, and tips for how to equalize pressure on flights.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why children get ear infections more than adults
- How pacifier use, bottles, and smoke can increase the frequency of ear infections
- The difference between a middle ear infection and an outer ear infection
- When to treat ear infections and when to watch and wait if they resolve on their own
- Why waiting on using antibiotics as a treatment for an ear infection is a better idea than always using them
- What research shows for ear infection treatment with things like xylitol, probiotics, herbs, homeopathy, and alcohol
- What medicine or pain relief methods do you recommend for children
- When ear tubes are needed, how they affect hearing, and how long they stay in
- How the treatment for otitis media differs from otitis externa
- What parents can do to try to prevent ear infections in their children
- Why you do not need to be cleaning your ears
- How to relieve pressure for adults and kids when flying
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Questions:
- Why are kids getting ear infections so much more than adults do?
- Does pacifier use increase the frequency of ear infections?
- What is the difference between a middle ear infection and an outer ear infection?
- When are we treating bacterial versus viral ear infections and when are we just watching it develop or go away? What are the reasons for that?
- Why is waiting on antibiotics a better idea than just alway prescribing antibiotics, regardless if we think it’s bacterial or viral?
- What are your thoughts on treatment options with things like xylitol, probiotics, herbs, homeopathy, and alcohol? What does the research say about these different items as far as treatment, prevention, or decreasing pain?
- Have you seen that kids do better with Motrin or Tylenol as far as pain relief? And is there anything else you recommend?
- What is the frequency of ear infections before a child is referred to you?
- Are there any other treatment options besides ear tubes? When are they removed? Can kids swim? Does this affect how they hear at all?
- Does the treatment for otitis media differ from otitis externa at all?
- Is there anything that parents can be doing with their kids to help prevent if their kids are kind of prone to these frequent infections?
- What are your thoughts on the cleaning of the ears?
- Do you have any specific suggestions on how to relieve pressure while flying and if you could separate that into what you would do for kids and then what you would do for yourself?
