What are the symptoms of ear inflammation in babies? Will ear inflammation in newborns affect hearing?

The ear is an important part of our body and is responsible for our hearing. We should pay attention to protecting our ears and not let water, especially dirty water, enter our ears. We should keep them dry and not dig our ears frequently. Especially for newborn babies, whose skin is tender and whose organs are not fully developed, we should pay attention to daily care to avoid ear inflammation. So will an ear inflammation affect a baby's hearing?

What are the symptoms of ear inflammation in babies?

Because children's Eustachian tubes are short, flat and wide, and the opening of the Eustachian tubes is located at a low position, nasopharyngeal secretions and bacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms can invade the middle ear through the Eustachian tubes. Especially when the newborn's breastfeeding posture is incorrect and the feeding position is inappropriate, the milk in the child's mouth will flow through the Eustachian tube into the middle ear and cause local inflammation. At this time, the child usually shakes his head and scratches his ears, crying and being restless.

The eardrum of infants and young children is thicker, so when the middle ear is inflamed or even pus accumulates, the eardrum remains unchanged. Therefore, it is difficult for the pus to be discharged. If necessary, an ENT doctor should be asked to perform a myringotomy to drain the pus, prevent complications, and shorten the course of the disease.

Children aged 2 to 3 years are prone to acute suppurative sinusitis. Some children have swelling and pain in the opening of the external auditory canal and the inside of the ear canal, and pain when the auricle is pulled. The possibility of external otitis and local furuncle should be considered.

Will ear infection affect hearing in newborns?

Generally, it will not affect hearing, but it needs to be treated in time, especially for otitis media. If the eardrum is not perforated, it will generally not affect hearing. If the baby's ear has pus, it means there is a possibility of perforation, which will affect hearing.

If the child refuses to breastfeed, cries at night, rubs one ear, has partial hearing loss, or has discharge in the ear, it may be considered that the child has otitis media. It should be noted that if the fluid in the ear remains for up to three months, partial hearing loss may occur. Therefore, whether it is acute or chronic otitis media, parents should actively take the baby to treatment without delay.

Can I use iodine for baby's ear infection?

If it is an external inflammation, you can wipe it, but it is not recommended because it is highly irritating and the baby's skin is tender. If the inflamed area is in the middle ear, you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean it, and then apply some ofloxacin and dexamethasone ointment. Don't cover your ears or pick your ears all the time, it may also be external auditory canal eczema. Also pay attention to whether there is choking and milk spitting. If there is a lot of secretions, the external auditory canal opening is red and swollen, or the secretions are purulent, you need to go to the hospital.

How to clean baby's ears better

The external auditory canal of a newborn is relatively narrow. Therefore, when washing or bathing your baby, or when the baby spits up milk, be careful not to let dirty water or milk flow into the deep ear canal to avoid inflammation. When water or milk flows into the ear, let the baby's head turn to the side where the water enters, and use a sterilized cotton swab to wipe the water stains in the external auditory canal. Be careful to be gentle, and do not probe the cotton swab into the deep ear canal. Just clean the outside.