Educational Corner: Earaches, infections, and pain

This Educational Corner is all about the ear. I have never had acute ear pain, but this past winter my son supposedly had an "ear infection," one of the most misdiagnosed and overtreated of all childhood illnesses according to my current read, "How to Raise a Healthy Child...in Spite of Your Doctor."

As soon as I heard this diagnosis, I took to my usual stance, perusing the Internet for natural healing methods and more information, being leery of the drops and oral meds prescribed for the conjoining "strep throat" he was diagnosed with (more than once). I felt uncomfortable giving antibiotics not knowing how or why my son had concurred such an earache. I didn't want him to be in pain, so I wanted to do something. Not doing anything made me feel guilty, like I didn't care. That was absolutely not the case. I only wish I had had access to this text then!

I will now give and explain five important points about earaches and pain.

1. Ear pain is usually caused by pressure that develops when something (like an infection) prevents proper draining in the eustachian tubes of the ear. Both bacterial and viral infections can result in the ear canal, midle ear, and inner ear. Inner ear infections are rare in children. Many parents are fearful earaches being the result of ear infections can lead to hearing loss and a condition known as mastoiditis. Your child may in fact suffer short-termed hearing loss from recurring infections that will return fully. Mastoiditis is now extinct, regardless of if the ache is treated or not.
2. Another source of earaches are foreign bodies in the ears. Anything smaller than an elbow can become lodged in the ear, such as jelly beans, M&M's, BB gun bullets, cotton balls, paper clips, and (gasp!) safety pins. You should immediately take the child to a doctor if he/she tells you they put something in their ear because it could be dangerous for you to try to remove it on your own. The only other reason to take the child to the doctor because of an earache is if it persists past 48 hours or more.
3. Allergies are another common cause of earaches. The most common culprit is: cow's milk. (click here to read article review covering cow's milk and if it is really necessary for human consumption). Bottlefed babies especially suffer from cow's milk because it is an ingredient found in baby formula. Milk causes the swelling of the mucous membranes, which interferes with proper drainage of the eustachian tubes. Other allergies are dust, pollen, foods, or even chlorinated pool water from swimming.
4. Removing ear wax from the ear is often an unnecessary action that can cause injury. Q-tips are not advised to use, because you do not know how far to go to avoid damaging the membrane at the end of the ear as well interfering with the ear's natural cleaning mechanisms by pushing the dirt and wax back further into the ear, undoing the work the ear has already done to remove what it needs. If a child punctures his own eardrum by sticking something in his ear, like a pencil, it will heal itself and very rarely does it need any other action like surgery or antibiotics. These should be questioned. 
5. Another source of earaches is a difference in air pressure, such as when riding an elevator, or going on a plane. Pain and temporary hearing loss may occur, but will disappear when the internal and external pressures finally equalize. If they fail to stabilize, an ear infection may occur. You can equalize this yourself by exercising the mouth and jaw muscles in chewing (gum, for example), swallowing, yawning, and trying to blow out the pressure by holding your nose and blowing with the mouth closed like you are blowing your nose. Since babies can't be instructed to do these things, it is good to nurse the baby during takeoff and landing, or give the baby something to chew or swallow (maybe a finder or pacifier or toy).

These are main causes of earaches and ear pain. Read the next Educational Corner for advisable treatments. It is always important to remember that our bodies are powerful agents that can stand up for themselves; at least this is how they were created. When we do our best to let our bodies work, many aches and pains will resolve themselves, and if they do need our help, we do not always have to instantly employ the use of antibiotics for treatment.

Source: Mendelsohn, Robert S. How To Raise a Healthy Child...in Spite of Your Doctor. Ballantine Publishing Group, 1984. Pp 140-144. www.ballantinebooks.com

Happy Hearing!

Monica P.