Do You Know How to Treat an Ear Infection?
Allison Bush | March 14, 2013
- 0 True
- 1 False
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True or False: All earaches are infections.
The congestion of a cold can make yours or your child's ears feel clogged and painful, but that's not necessarily an ear infection. Ear pain can also be caused by facial pain, from a tooth, for example. Source: [parenting.com ](http://www.parents.com/baby/health/ear-infection/the-right-way-to-treat-an-ear-infection/)
True or False: All ear infections are bacterial.
Some infections are caused by viruses (like the viral germs that are responsible for colds). While a higher fever and an inflamed eardrum are more likely to indicate that bacteria are causing the ear pain, it's not always an easy diagnosis.
True or False: Not all ear infections require antibiotics.
Doctors say that even if the ear pain is caused by bacteria, an ear infection can go away by itself within a day for some, and a week for a greater percentage. Doctors have guidelines to determine when and if to give antibiotics, especially to children. The three benchmarks are fever, fluid and inflammation.
True or False: OTC pain meds are a good alternative to treating ear pain before resorting to antibiotics.
Sometimes OTC pain meds, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, will do the trick in relieving ear pain, and antibiotics won't be necessary.
True or False: If your child has frequent ear infections, myringotomy or tympanostomy tubes should be considered.
Myringotomy or tympanostomy tubes are very tiny tubes placed through the eardrums that allow air into the middle ear and let fluid drain out. Tubes are suggested when a child has repeated infections or has persistent fluid in the middle ear. The surgery is a quick and easy one, and the child will be able to return home the same day. Lastly, the tubes are not permanent, and typically fall out on their own within six months. Source: [parenting.com](http://www.parents.com/baby/health/ear-infection/the-right-way-to-treat-an-ear-infection/?page=3)