| The ear consists of three parts: the external, | | | | on their ear or ears. A child with an ear infection, |
| middle, and interior ear. The external ear also | | | | regardless of age, may show signs of irritability, |
| consists of three parts-the auricle, the auditory | | | | listlessness, have difficulty hearing and may not |
| canal, and the tympanic membrane. The auricle | | | | feel like eating or sleeping. This is particularly true |
| (pronounced OR-uh-kull) is the outermost part of | | | | with breastfed babies who have an ear ache. |
| the ear; the part you can see attached to the | | | | Because a breastfed baby suckles in a certain |
| sides of your head. The auricle is connected to | | | | way that is different and more difficult than |
| the interior parts of the ear by means of a | | | | suckling from a bottle, this motion can irritate the |
| narrow opening called the auditory canal. At the | | | | baby's sore ears causing him or her to "go off his |
| end of the auditory canal is the tympanic | | | | feed." |
| membrane, or eardrum. | | | | The sensation of tinnitus is the sound of |
| Children who are around people who smoke are | | | | high-pitched whistling, buzzing, ringing or hissing. It |
| at a very high risk of getting ear infections. | | | | can also be quite a complex sound, like the roar |
| Additionally, if they have had previous ear | | | | of an ocean. The sounds may be constant or |
| infections or have a family history of ear | | | | come and go. |
| infections can increase their risk. It is no big secret | | | | Whatever the cause of the tinnitus, it's almost |
| that children in day care are exposed to many | | | | always made worse by stress, which can be |
| more germs and viruses so this is a large risk. A | | | | physical, psychological or emotional. Some people |
| child who was premature at birth or had a low | | | | are able to live with the sound of their tinnitus |
| birth weight may also be at a higher risk. | | | | quite happily. In others, the sound seriously |
| The common Causes of Ear Infection : | | | | interferes with their quality of life. The sound can |
| The cause is a germ infecting the outer ear canal. | | | | be in one or both ears, or elsewhere in the head. |
| Most often this is caused by bacteria (which can | | | | Surgery |
| be treated with antibiotics), but sometimes other | | | | If there is fluid in the middle ear and the condition |
| causes, such as fungus infection, are to blame. | | | | persists, even with antibiotic treatment, a |
| The infection can happen to anyone. Sometimes a | | | | healthcare provider may recommend |
| cause can be traced, such as swimming in | | | | myringotomy (surgical opening of the eardrum) to |
| infected sea water (many surfers will attest to | | | | relieve pressure and allow drainage of the fluid. |
| this). Most times it is not possible to be sure why | | | | This may or may not involve the insertion of |
| it started. Excessive sweating from physical | | | | tympanostomy tubes (often referred to as ear |
| activity. | | | | tubes). In this procedure, a tiny tube is inserted |
| Symptoms | | | | into the eardrum, keeping open a small hole that |
| Older children can tell you that their ear hurts. | | | | allows air to get in so fluids can drain more easily |
| Their ear pain may also be accompanied with | | | | down the eustachian tube. Tympanostomy tube |
| fever. Babies, however, and children who are too | | | | insertion is done under general anesthesia. |
| young to tell you where it hurts may cry or pull | | | | |