Guidelines for the care of children with otitis media

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Nguyen Van Thai - Ear, Nose Throat Doctor - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear, common in young children. If otitis media in children is not treated promptly and definitively, it can lead to dangerous complications such as: perforated eardrum, facial paralysis, mastoid otitis, affecting the ability to hear - speak, even meningitis, brain abscess... Besides hospital treatment, parents also need to know how to properly care for children with otitis media.

1. How to take care of children with otitis media?

1.1. Clean ears, nose and throat

Ear - nose - throat are closely related. So when your child has otitis media, you need to keep all three parts clean.
● Ear hygiene: If the child's ear is bleeding, it is necessary to clean the child's ear. Use a cotton swab to gently wipe, do not wipe too deeply, which may cause ear damage. Absolutely do not use cotton earplugs to block the pus, but to let the pus out.
● Nasal hygiene: Use physiological saline to wash the child's nose daily. If it is cold, warm salt water before the baby is born so that the child does not catch a cold.
● Throat hygiene: Tongue, daily oral hygiene for children. For older children, you can let them gargle with salt water.

1.2. Healthy eating mode

Caring for children with otitis media needs to apply a reasonable diet. Children with otitis media may be irritable, fussy, and tired. You should give your child a variety of nutritious foods. Give your child several meals a day so they can eat more.
Give your child plenty of water or fruit juices to drink. For children under 6 months of age, it is necessary to increase the amount of milk daily, breastfeed more children.

1.3. Follow your doctor's instructions

Give your child full medicine as directed by the doctor, do not arbitrarily use over-the-counter drugs.
If the child has a fever, it is necessary to apply a warm towel to the child to quickly reduce the fever. Let the child wear light clothes, lie down in a cool place. Give your child fever-reducing and pain-relieving medicine when the child has a fever above 38.5 degrees Celsius or shows discomfort or pain.

1.4. Take your child to the hospital when he or she shows signs of serious illness

Caring for children with otitis media at home should be very attentive. If the condition does not improve or becomes worse, the child should be taken to the hospital for re-examination.
Signs that need to be taken to the doctor include:
● The child constantly complains of pain, the severity and frequency of the pain increases. fussy, refuse to eat, don't suckle for a long time
Child vomits or has diarrhea

2. How to prevent otitis media in children

Middle ear infections can be prevented by the following measures:
● Clean ears - nose - throat, minimize the possibility of runny nose, sore throat
● Keep the child warm, especially the neck, soles of feet when it's cold or when lying in an air-conditioned room
Limit children picking their noses
● When children have sore throats, runny noses, tonsillitis ... need definitive treatment
● Get children vaccinated
● Keep them Keep the house clean, avoid mold and dust treatment, especially in the field of Head and Neck Surgery. Currently, he is an Otolaryngologist at the Inter-Specialist Clinic of the Department of Medical Examination and Internal Medicine, Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.

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