{"id":4071,"date":"2026-08-27T18:39:05","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T18:39:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mchdep.org\/?page_id=4071"},"modified":"2026-09-04T20:54:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T20:54:18","slug":"ear-infections","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mchdep.org\/es\/ear-infections\/","title":{"rendered":"Ear Infections"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"4071\" class=\"elementor elementor-4071\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-711fa55 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"711fa55\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e526b9 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9e526b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ear Infections<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47bea43 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"47bea43\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Expert diagnosis and effective treatments to stop recurring ear infections.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ac51d4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8ac51d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e4e7b6 e-con-full e-flex elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3e4e7b6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db2384c exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"db2384c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">Ear infections, also known as otitis media, are one of the most common childhood medical problems. Ear infections are the most frequent cause of doctor visits for children. In fact, three out of four children in the United States will have at least one ear infection by the time they reach the age of three.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-940bb50 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"940bb50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Causes of Ear Infections<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e02aa2 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e02aa2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">While ear infections can occur in any of the three parts of the ear, they most commonly develop in the middle ear. Ear infections are caused when fluid builds up behind the eardrum in the Eustachian tubes, the tubes that connect the ears to the nose. This moist environment is conducive to the rapid growth of bacteria which result in the infection. Occasionally, although ear infections are usually caused by bacteria, viruses or allergies may be the underlying factor.<\/p><p class=\"\">Since children&#8217;s Eustachian tubes are narrower and shorter than those of adults, children are more likely to develop ear infections. In fact, ear infections are relatively rare in adults.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-820bfa5 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"820bfa5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Risk Factors for Ear Infections<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-048b95c exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"048b95c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">Certain individuals are predisposed to ear infections by heredity or anatomy. Feeding position can also be a risk factor as babies who are bottle-fed tend to develop more ear infections than breastfed babies. Children in group child care may be more likely to develop ear infections simply because they are exposed to more children who may be sick. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are also more likely to develop ear infections, as are children with weakened immune systems or allergies or those who use a pacifier.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b4df3a exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4b4df3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Symptoms of Ear Infections<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ba53ae exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4ba53ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">Typical symptoms of ear infections may include the following:<\/p><ul><li>Ear pain<\/li><li>Fever<\/li><li>Headache<\/li><li>Difficulty hearing<\/li><li>Discharge from the ear<\/li><li>Dizziness<\/li><li>Loss of appetite or vomiting<\/li><li>Sensation of fullness or popping in the ears<\/li><li>Balance difficulties<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"\">Since young children often develop ear infections before they become verbal, parents may have to be detectives, alert to symptoms such as ear pulling, frequent crying, irritability and difficulty sleeping, particularly when these symptoms are present during or after a cold.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af2264f exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"af2264f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Diagnosis of Ear Infections<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e41204 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3e41204\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">Ear infections are diagnosed through a thorough physical examination. To get a clear view of the eardrum, the doctor will use a small lighted tube called an otoscope. The physician may also perform a hearing test to evaluate whether there is any hearing loss, particularly if the patient has experienced recurrent infections.<\/p><p class=\"\">Patients should be checked after ear infections to determine whether any fluid remains trapped behind the eardrum, a condition known as otitis media with effusion. Even though this condition may not result in any symptoms, it must be treated to prevent complications.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b860c7 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6b860c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Treatment of Ear Infections<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c722b6 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2c722b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">Treatment for ear infections usually focuses on relieving pain and congestion through oral medication or ear drops since most ear infections resolve on their own within two or three days. Antibiotics are only prescribed if the infection is bacterial, since viral infections do not respond to antibiotic treatment. If an ear infection is severe or resistant to medication, or if a patient develops chronic ear infections, the doctor may recommend the use of corticosteroids or the implantation of ear tubes to promote drainage. If the cause of repeated infections is determined to be anatomical, the doctor may recommend another surgical procedure.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19c454d exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"19c454d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Additional Resources<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7d1460 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b7d1460\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/\">MediaLinePlus<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/\">National Institutes of Health<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/index.html\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nichd.nih.gov\/\">Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ahrq.gov\/\">U.S. Department of Health &amp; Human Services<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/\">WebMD<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ear Infections Expert diagnosis and effective treatments to stop recurring ear infections. Ear infections, also known as otitis media, are one of the most common childhood medical problems. Ear infections are the most frequent cause of doctor visits for children. In fact, three out of four children in the United States will have at least [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4071","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mchdep.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4071","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mchdep.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mchdep.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mchdep.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mchdep.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4071"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/mchdep.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4071\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4225,"href":"https:\/\/mchdep.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4071\/revisions\/4225"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mchdep.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}