Ear Infections: The more you know, the more you can help...
Does any of this happen in your home?
*Has been crying all night
*Won't eat
*Wakes up every hour or two
*Runs a fever
*Pulls at his or her ears
If so, your child may have an ear infection...Bacteria often cause this problem. Antibiotics may help, but sometimes they don't..You play a big role in getting your child well..The more you know about ear infections , the better you can fight them...
What causes an ear infection?
An ear infection begins when fluid builds up in the middle ear. ( The middle ear is the space just behind the eardrum. The eardrum is found in the ear. ) When this fluid does not drain from the middle ear as it should, bacteria often grow. These bacteria can cause an ear infection....
What should I do?
If you think your child has an ear infection, call your doctor. Your doctor may write a prescription for an antibiotic...But don't push for one...Sometimes it is not needed...Let your doctor decide the best way to treat your child...
What are antibiotics? How do they work?
Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria...They can also stop bacteria from growing...They do not treat VIRUSES or the flu..Your doctor will decide if your child needs an antibiotic, and if your child needs one, your doctor will decide which antibiotic is the right one....
Are antibiotics good for fighting colds?
NO!! They don't work against colds or flu...VIRUSES cause colds and the flu....Antibiotics treat BACTERIAL infections..Your doctor can tell the difference...
How will my doctor decide which antibiotic, if any , is right for my child?
Your doctor will think about many things when choosing an antibiotic...Ease of dosing is only one of them...Only your doctor can decide what kind of infection your child has....He or she can also decide the best way to treat the infection....
You may live in an area where there is a high rate of ' resistance ' This means that some antibiotics may not work for your child where you live...Your doctor will think about this when prescribing an antibiotic for your child....
If my child feels better, Does my child need to take the rest of the doses?
YES!! Your child may start to feel better before all of this doses have been taken but if you stop early, the infection might not be gone...Give your child ALL of the doses your doctor tells you must be taken....
TIPS:
*If you think your child has an ear infection, see a doctor...
*Let your doctor decide if an antibiotic is needed
*Don't ask for an antibiotic if your child has a cold or the flu...VIRUSES cause these...An antibiotic won't work....
*Give your child ALL of the doses on the bottle label...Finish the FULL prescription....
*Don't give one child's antibiotic to a sibling
*Throw away any leftover medicine after your child takes all of the doses the doctor say must be taken....
*Listen to your doctor...Follow your doctor's instructions....Give doses at the right time as many days as neededddd...
*Always keep medicine out of the reach of children...
Does any of this happen in your home?
*Has been crying all night
*Won't eat
*Wakes up every hour or two
*Runs a fever
*Pulls at his or her ears
If so, your child may have an ear infection...Bacteria often cause this problem. Antibiotics may help, but sometimes they don't..You play a big role in getting your child well..The more you know about ear infections , the better you can fight them...
What causes an ear infection?
An ear infection begins when fluid builds up in the middle ear. ( The middle ear is the space just behind the eardrum. The eardrum is found in the ear. ) When this fluid does not drain from the middle ear as it should, bacteria often grow. These bacteria can cause an ear infection....
What should I do?
If you think your child has an ear infection, call your doctor. Your doctor may write a prescription for an antibiotic...But don't push for one...Sometimes it is not needed...Let your doctor decide the best way to treat your child...
What are antibiotics? How do they work?
Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria...They can also stop bacteria from growing...They do not treat VIRUSES or the flu..Your doctor will decide if your child needs an antibiotic, and if your child needs one, your doctor will decide which antibiotic is the right one....
Are antibiotics good for fighting colds?
NO!! They don't work against colds or flu...VIRUSES cause colds and the flu....Antibiotics treat BACTERIAL infections..Your doctor can tell the difference...
How will my doctor decide which antibiotic, if any , is right for my child?
Your doctor will think about many things when choosing an antibiotic...Ease of dosing is only one of them...Only your doctor can decide what kind of infection your child has....He or she can also decide the best way to treat the infection....
You may live in an area where there is a high rate of ' resistance ' This means that some antibiotics may not work for your child where you live...Your doctor will think about this when prescribing an antibiotic for your child....
If my child feels better, Does my child need to take the rest of the doses?
YES!! Your child may start to feel better before all of this doses have been taken but if you stop early, the infection might not be gone...Give your child ALL of the doses your doctor tells you must be taken....
TIPS:
*If you think your child has an ear infection, see a doctor...
*Let your doctor decide if an antibiotic is needed
*Don't ask for an antibiotic if your child has a cold or the flu...VIRUSES cause these...An antibiotic won't work....
*Give your child ALL of the doses on the bottle label...Finish the FULL prescription....
*Don't give one child's antibiotic to a sibling
*Throw away any leftover medicine after your child takes all of the doses the doctor say must be taken....
*Listen to your doctor...Follow your doctor's instructions....Give doses at the right time as many days as neededddd...
*Always keep medicine out of the reach of children...