All about ear infections

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Hi, I'm Dr. Altmann. Is your child often bothered by ear infections? They're are common childhood complaint that's

painful for kids and distressing for parents, but not all ear infections are alike. Knowing the different types can help

you prevent and properly treat your child's ear infections. A middle ear infection occurs when fluid becomes trapped and infected behind the eardrum.

Symptoms include pain, fever, and difficulty hearing. This kind of infection is more likely when your child has a cold or allergies,

so taking steps to prevent cold and allergies also helps sidestep this type of ear infection.

Middle ear infections often clear up on their own, but if you have a baby or a toddler or your child's symptoms are getting worse or not

improving after a few days, see your pediatrician. Sometimes, antibiotics are needed to clear up the infection.

An outer ear infection, like swimmer's ear, occurs when the skin lining the ear canal becomes infected.

It's usually caused by water getting trapped in the ear after swimming or bathing. That creates an environment for bacteria to grow.

Outer ear infections are very painful, especially when you touch or tug on the ear, and they're treated with antibiotic ear drops.

Keeping your child's ear dry helps prevent outer ear infections. Also, avoid using a cotton swab to clean the inside of the ear.

That can cause this type of infection, too. I'm Dr. Altmann. For more ways to raise healthy kids,

check out all our Smart Tips. [HEARTBEAT]