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Baby Ear infection (Otitis Media)

About 60% of babies have at least one ear infection before their second birthday. It is a viral or bacterial infection of the middle ear. Breast milk contains antibodies that prevent infants from developing ear infection.

The Pneumococcal vaccine helps prevent ear infection.

The common symptoms of ear infection are: pulling on the ear, does not hear properly, dull fever, and cry during feeding. You should consult a pediatrician, who can look in the ear canal. Most of the ear infections clear up within a week. The pediatrician may give antibiotics. He may also suggest baby Tylenol to ease the pain and discomfort. Even after the treatment, there may be fluid in the ear for another three weeks. The normal hearing will return after the fluid has disappeared.

It is essential that the pediatrician has actually confirmed that the fluids have cleared up, otherwise it may effect the language processing capability in the infant's brain. Childhood ear infections should not be ignored.