If you want to ask who is the most likely enemy for parents to encounter on the road to raising a baby?
Presumably, many parents will nominate for a cold as soon as possible!
But the University of Science and Technology would like to remind you here: the baby is most likely to get not only colds, but also acute otitis media that cannot be underestimated!
Surveys and studies have shown that the eustachian tube in infants and young children is shorter and narrower than that of adults, so bacteria and viruses are more likely to enter the middle ear of young children.
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The proportion of babies under 3 years old who have suffered from acute otitis media can be as high as more than 80%!
What are the dangers of acute otitis media to babies, and how can parents cope with and prevent it?
1
Otitis media can cause permanent hearing loss!6 Ways to Detect It Early
The biggest harm of acute otitis media lies in its impact on the baby's hearing, in addition to congenital deafness, acute otitis media is the main cause of hearing loss in babies.
There are many parents who want to know: Can the hearing loss caused by acute otitis media recover?
In fact, whether hearing can be restored depends on the situation.
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There are two types of acute otitis media, non-purulent and purulent, and the two types of otitis media have different effects on a child's hearing.
1. Non-plastic otitis media
Effects on hearing:
Hearing loss due to non-purulent otitis media is conductive and in most cases does not deaf the baby.
The principle of treatment is to reduce inflammation and promote the discharge of fluid in the ear, after the effusion is discharged, the hearing will be restored naturally!
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2. Purulent otitis media
Effects on hearing:
Prompt treatment can restore hearing, but if it is not effectively controlled, it is likely to cause enlarged membrane perforation, ossicular destruction, etc., resulting in permanent hearing loss.
Not only that, delayed treatment of purulent otitis media may also transform into chronic otitis media, causing 3 major injuries to the baby:
(1) Perforation of the eardrum
A large number of bacteria from the outside invade and proliferate, infecting nearby organs and tissues, causing perforation of the eardrum.
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(2) Ear pus, dizziness and headache
After acute otitis media turns into chronic purulent otitis media, there will be symptoms such as repeated pus, dizziness, and even headaches.
(3) Cause meningitis and harm the brain
Qingdao Evening News once reported such a news:
Source: Qingdao Evening News
Since delaying treatment is so harmful, what can we do to detect the possibility of otitis media in children as early as possible?
Just one trick: pay close attention to your child's situation after a cold!
Otitis media is mostly caused by colds, so we must pay close attention to the baby's situation after the baby has a cold, and send the following conditions to the hospital in time:
(1) Infants and young children have an unexplained fever of more than 38 °C for one week.
(2) Crying often after a cold, or pulling ears with your hands.
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(3) Purulent mucus discharge from the ear.
(4) More and more sticky nasal discharge and yellow eye droppings.
(5) Long-term snoring while sleeping, repeated thick nasal discharge and nasal congestion.
(6) You can always have an ear thermometer at home. If there is a difference of more than 0.5°C, the ear on the higher side may have otitis media.
If parents do not notice any of the above symptoms, the baby may have hearing loss.
Note: Tugging on the ear during normal play is not a sign of otitis media.
How to treat it once it is diagnosed?
2
There are 2 types of corresponding treatments, which parents must learn
After the diagnosis of otitis media, doctors usually recommend different treatment methods for parents according to the different symptoms of otitis media:
1. Purulent otitis media
Symptoms: fever, earache, pus oozing.
Piercing ear medications:
(1) 3% hydrogen peroxide cleans the ear canal and drains pus.
(2) Appropriate use of antibiotic ear drops, such as oxofloxacin ear drops.
Systemic therapy: oral antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, are recommended for at least 7 days.
2. Non-plastic otitis media
Symptoms: fever, earache, no pus oozing.
Unpierced ear medications:
Anti-inflammatory pain relievers, such as phenol ear drops, are used.
Systemic therapy: oral antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, are recommended for at least 7 days.
Some babies with non-purulent otitis media can recover on their own and can be treated conservatively for three months.
During this period, parents need to do 3 things:
(1) Help the baby relieve the symptoms of nasal congestion caused by colds: under the guidance of a doctor, topical medications, such as mucosal decongestants, antihistamines or common nasal hormones.
The purpose is to reduce mucosal congestion in the eustachian tube, reduce the exudation of middle ear effusion, and improve middle ear ventilation and drainage.
(2) Regular follow-up: long-term observation of the baby's symptoms, 2~4 weeks on a follow-up.
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(3) If the recurrence occurs again, take the baby to the doctor again: If otitis media recurs and lasts for more than 3 months, it is likely that surgery is required.
Speaking of this, some parents may ask, acute otitis media is so "dangerous", how can parents prevent it?
Stand still and don't go! The strongest "prevention of extinction" of the University of Science and Technology is here!
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3
Do these 2 things well, and stay away from the baby with otitis media
As mentioned in the previous article, otitis media is mainly caused by colds, so the most important task to prevent otitis media is to prevent colds!
How to prevent colds:
(1) Dress in a planned way
In autumn, the temperature difference is large, so it is recommended to wear one more in the morning and evening than at noon, and one less in the event than in a quiet place. According to the weather forecast, add or remove clothes for your child in a planned way.
(2) Appropriate outdoor activities
Appropriate outdoor activities are a good opportunity to improve your baby's ability to adapt to the environment.
For babies under 1 year old, it is recommended to come out 2-3 times a day on a windless day for about 10 minutes each time.
Babies over 1 year old are active for about 1 hour a day.
(3) Balanced nutrition
Give your baby more light, easy-to-digest and vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables, and pay attention to hydration.
In addition to the prevention of colds, there is another point that the University of Science and Technology should focus on, that is, to escape from second-hand smoke!
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Secondhand smoke can easily cause upper respiratory tract infections, which will greatly increase the probability of acute otitis media and recurrent otitis media in babies.
Even third-hand smoke that exists on clothes, on the sofa, in the car, can cause harm to the baby!
So for the sake of the baby's health, our human-shaped smoke machine that "swallows clouds and spits out fog", knows what to do, right?