Guide To Ear Infection Diagnosis And Treatment

Observational Approach

Major pediatric organizations now recommend an observational approach to the treatment of ear infections for certain patients. Current guidelines state this approach should be considered as an option for children from six months to two years old who are having mild pain in one ear that has been present for less than forty-eight hours. The approach is also recommended for children over two years old who have had mild pain in one or both ears that has lasted for less than forty-eight hours.

To use this treatment on children of any age, doctors must check the patient's temperature to ensure it is lower than 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Patients with fevers above this threshold will require different treatment. During observation, the child will be monitored at home by their parents, and a second examination should be completed by a doctor if symptoms do not improve after forty-eight hours.

Anti-Inflammatory Pain Medication

Since ear infections may cause significant pain for some patients, doctors typically advise patients to take anti-inflammatory pain medication. Generally, over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen or naproxen are appropriate, and some patients may wish to take acetaminophen. Acetylsalicylic acid should only be taken by patients older than nineteen years old, as it can cause Reye's syndrome in younger individuals. In addition, ibuprofen is not recommended for use in children less than six months old.

When using an over-the-counter pain reliever, patients should always use the dosage recommended on the label. Doses for infants and children are based on weight. For example, a child who weighs forty-eight to fifty-nine pounds could take either one adult two hundred milligram ibuprofen tablet or four chewable fifty-milligram tablets. Children who weigh ninety-six pounds and above can safely take two adult two hundred milligram ibuprofen tablets. Ibuprofen may cause elevated blood pressure, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, and diarrhea or constipation, and patients taking naproxen could develop stomach pain, a sensation of tightness in the chest, easy bruising, and breathing difficulties. Any new or worsening side effects should be reported to the patient's doctor as soon as possible.