Children and Infant Ear Infections

Middle ear infection is a very common problem faced by children. Even infants below two years could face this problem. Infection in the ear is caused by germs and viruses. They enter the human body and grow to cause infection, affecting the normal functioning of the body. Similarly, germs can enter the ears. Depending on the location of infection, the infections are named. The human ear can be divided into the inner part, middle part and outer part. When the outer ear is infected by germs, the infection is known as swimmer’s ear. When the inner part of the ear gets infected, it is called middle ear infection. The germs infect the middle portion of the ear and fill that area with pus or a yellow gooey liquid. This liquid has cells which fight germs. The middle part of the ear is shaped in the form of a tiny air pocket. It is located at the back of the eardrum. And when the pus begins to fill in this area, the ear feels like a filled balloon which is on the verge of popping. This feeling is really painful.

The throat is connected to the middle portion of the ear through a channel known as Eustachian tube and in fact middle portions of both the ears are connected to the throat by two Eustachian tubes. The job of these tubes is to allow the free movement of air, from the middle ear, in and out direction. Infants below three years have less developed and smaller Eustachian tubes and therefore are less capable of keeping germs completely out of the middle ear. As the child grows, so do the Eustachian tubes and the more capable they are of keeping germs outside, but they still face some problem.

Usually kids, who have allergic problems and catch cold very frequently, are more prone to get ear infections. When the child gets cold, the Eustachian tube gets obstructed which allow germs to get into the middle ear. And the germs which gain entry, multiply rapidly resulting in a middle ear infection.

The child gets a fever along with the ear pain. Some even find it difficult to hear because of the blockage. Middle ear infection is not contagious, but the cold caught from others can eventually result in an ear infection. The sooner the doctor is contacted, the better for the child and the rest of the family members. The doctor will check the ear with the help of an otoscope. It is a special flashlight which makes the eardrum visible. The eardrum is a thin membrane separating the outer ear from the middle ear. The otoscope can also be used to blow a puff of air into the ear. This determines whether the ear drum is functioning normally and is moving in a healthy way or not. Because of the puss formation due to the infection, the fluid will press against the ear drum and may even make it to bulge. Also, the eardrum can turn red because of the infection.

For more information on infant and children ear infections, please give us a call. Our Union City chiropractic office is located at
2815 Whipple Road. Our Fremont chiropractic office is located at . Our San Lorenzo chiropractic office is located at .

You can also read our article, Union City Chiropractic Care and Children at that link.

Another Tip for Back Pain Relief from Your Union City Chiropractor

Many people have pain in different areas of their body including their lower back. There’s a variety of medical issues that can cause pain. You can know what to do about the uncomfortable pain in your lower back by trying to eliminate the factors that cause it, and by the length of time it’s been going on. The pain can be dealt with, and you can find a way to live with it.

There are many reasons why you may be experiencing pain. The body is a complicated machine, so it might take you a lot of investigation and deduction on finding out the cause for the pain in your lower back. An acute condition is when pain erupts from your back that is sudden and usually related to an injury in the lower back. Chronic pain is found in ongoing medical problems that are more than likely related to disease or a past injury.

Traumatic injury occurs from situations like lifting something, or suddenly reaching for an item that makes you stretch too far. Lots of injuries occur at work in the lower back, but don’t be fooled that it can’t happen at home either. A sprain or strain in your lower back happens when you damage muscles, tendons or ligaments in your lower back. There’s usually a dull aching pain, and sharp pain when moving about. You can relieve the pain by lying in a prone position and apply ice or heat.

Ongoing long term pain can be due to several conditions. If you’re an elderly person, know that the disc in the spine become rigid and looses elasticity as you age. Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are two of the top reasons pain develops in the lower back for the aged. Pain sensations can be sharp or a continual dull ache. Other types of diseases and birth defects can cause pain, so be sure to let your chiropractor know if it’s been going on for longer than 3 months. A chronic condition involving pain needs to be treated, so you can live a more productive life.

Taking care of yourself is a necessity if you want to live an active and pain free life. You can use a few precautions and healthy life style choices by not gaining weight, having poor posture, or sleeping in awkward positions. Excess weight puts strain on the back, and poor posture even if you’re sitting, pulls the muscles and ligaments out of its natural position from the spine. An unnatural sleeping position does the same pulling on your lower back that poor posture does while you’re awake. Caring for your lower back is not all that hard, and it’s the least you can do for your hard working back.

For more tips on back pain relief, contact your Union City Chiropractors at 510-324-0100. Our Union City Chiropractic office is located at 2815 Whipple Road, Union City, California.