How Frequent Ear Infection Affects Your Child’s Overall Health

Ear infections are one of the most common childhood illnesses, particularly up until about the age of eight. For many kids, an ear infection comes and goes with a little discomfort and a short course of antibiotics (and maybe some time off from school). But for others, infections happen repeatedly — and that pattern can take a toll on more than just their ears and their hearing.

Fortunately, there are treatments that can help put an end to recurrent ear infections. Here, our expert team at Minit Medical Urgent Care and Physical Therapy helps parents understand why frequent ear infections happen — and what we can do to help resolve them.

Ear infection basics

In kids, ear infections typically happen when germ-filled fluid gets trapped behind the eardrum, often following a cold or other upper respiratory infection. In older kids and adults, this fluid drains out via the eustachian tubes, hollow channels attached to the inner ear.

But in younger kids and infants, these channels are shorter and more horizontal, making it harder for fluid to drain properly. Fluids and germs become trapped, resulting in painful swelling and infection as those germs grow and multiply in the warm, moist environment. 

While uncomfortable, an occasional ear infection that responds well to treatment typically doesn’t cause any long-term problems. But chronic or recurrent ear infections can definitely have an impact on your child’s health and other aspects of their well-being.

Impacts of frequent ear infections

Acute ear infections can cause temporary hearing loss, but when infections are chronic, repeated hearing loss can interfere with language development and communications skills, particularly when kids are very young. In these kids, even mild hearing loss can cause delays in sound recognition and speech development. 

These challenges can show up in different ways. Some children may have trouble pronouncing words or following directions, while others may be frustrated by an inability to express themselves when interacting with their peers or in school or social settings. Over time, speech and communication delays can take a toll on a child’s school performance, social interactions, and self-esteem.

Ear infections can also interfere with sleep, especially when pain gets worse at night. A child who isn’t sleeping well may be cranky during the day, have problems concentrating at school, or experience irritability or other changes in mood. Poor sleep can also weaken the immune system, making it easier for the next infection to take hold and harder for the body to heal afterward.

In severe instances, chronic infections can cause scarring that in turn leads to permanent hearing loss. Some infections can spread, leading to serious and life-threatening complications, like meningitis.

Managing chronic ear infections

The first step in managing chronic ear infections is identifying what’s causing them. Lots of factors can play a role in recurrent ear infections, including:

• Allergies and/or asthma
• Sinus or nasal abnormalities, like polyps or a deviated septum 
• Enlarged adenoids, pads of tissue at the back of the nasal passages 
• Immune system problems

Sometimes, it’s the environment that’s playing an active role. Kids exposed to tobacco smoke or other airborne pollutants tend to have more ear infections, and so do kids who are often in group settings, like daycare facilities.

When ear infections don’t respond to antibiotics, our team may take a tiny sample of ear fluid to identify the specific germ causing infection, so your child’s medication can be tailored to target that germ. Other times, we may recommend a tympanostomy, a minimally-invasive procedure to temporarily place tiny tubes inside your child’s ears for better drainage. 

Prompt treatment is essential

When ear infections keep coming back, it’s usually a sign that an underlying issue needs to be addressed to prevent future infections and avoid complications that can have a long-term impact on your child’s health and quality of life. 

To learn how we can help put a stop to your child’s chronic ear infections, request an appointment online or over the phone with Minit Medical Urgent Care and Physical Therapy in Kihei, Kahului, and Lahaina, Hawaii, today.