Your4 February 2009
Ending the ear ache
I
t was on Noah MacDon-
ald's first birthday that
his mum Victoria dis-
covered he had an ear
infection and it has been
a recurring problem ever
since.
"He woke up crying," said
Victoria. "His ear had started
to weep and so I took him to the
doctors and discovered that his
ear drum had burst because of
an infection."
A course of antibiotics
helped to clear up the infection
but two-year-old Noah has
continued to develop infections
in his ear.
Victoria said: "I didn't know
he had an infection until his
ear drum burst.
"Now he is a bit older he can
point to his ear so I know there
is a problem.
"I have heard that children
grow out of ear infections but I
want to get to the bottom of
why it keeps happening.
"It is best to keep getting it
checked out by a doctor and he
has now got an appointment to
see a specialist."
The incidences of children's
ear infections in the UK reach
a peak between January and
March.
If an ear infection isn't
treated straight away the pus
will build up and the pressure
will cause it to burst.
"He likes swimming but it is
difficult to go when he has
problems with his ear," said
Victoria.
"It seems to get worse when
it is cold.
"He wears a hat but I am
reluctant to take him outside
when it is cold."
Around 200,000 children
suffer from repeated ear
infections or glue ear each year
in the UK and although the
majority of infections clear up
naturally, there is a danger that
potentially more serious cases
are being overlooked.
For parents who are worried
about children's ear infections
up-to-date advice and guidance
is available in a new leaflet
from national charity Deafness
Research UK, Ear Infections
and Glue Ear in Children.
While rare, the bacteria that
cause ear infections can lead to
complications such as
pneumonia and meningitis.
Where the conditions cause
hearing loss because the
middle ear becomes filled with
fluid, younger children in
particular can have problems
with language development and
speech.
The leaflet is full of practical
tips and guidance, describing
the range of possible
symptoms, current treatments
and ways in which parents can
support their child and prevent
further problems.
Vivienne Michael, chief
executive of Deafness Research
UK, said: "Part of the problem
is that parents lack knowledge
about what to do if their child
has recurring or persistent ear
problems.
"It is important parents
should be aware that
antibiotics only help a small
proportion of children with ear
infections and are not
recommended at all in the
treatment of glue ear."
Overuse of antibiotics
encourages antibiotic
resistance and can reduce
children's ability to fight
further infection in the future.
`Good' bacteria often present
naturally in the throat, nose
and stomach may protect
against infections of many
types.
If a child has a tendency to
get ear infections, they should
be seen by their GP so that they
can be accurately monitored
and suitable treatment
prescribed.
For children with possible
glue ear, the GP should keep a
close eye on symptoms for up to
three months during which
time the child's hearing is
likely to be tested.
This will help the GP decide
whether referral for specialist
treatment is appropriate.
Parents' observations about
their child's symptoms can be
of critical importance in
helping a GP to make an
accurate diagnosis.
The signs that a child has
one of these conditions can
vary greatly and fluctuate even
within the course of a day.
The new leaflet has been
circulated to GP surgeries and
can also be obtained directly
from Deafness Research UK,
telephone 0808 808 2222 or email
info@deafnessresearch.org.uk.
For more information, visit
www.deafnessresearch.org.uk.
Emma Morley reports
on fresh help for
children suffering from
repeated ear infections
Noah MacDonald has
endured ear problems
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