home→Powders→ Why does a child touch his ears. A baby constantly scratches his ears and head, rubs the back of his head - why is this happening? 8 month old child is nervous and tugging at his ear

Why does a child touch his ears. A baby constantly scratches his ears and head, rubs the back of his head - why is this happening? 8 month old child is nervous and tugging at his ear

After the transfer - mode, well-being, discharge, etc.
Yes, fresh. Tomorrow I will go to Invitro to take tests. I read an article about D-dimer, that it seems to be on AI.

Thrombophilia and pregnancy
I bought a totem instead of a ferretab - both about 400 rubles, a totem with copper and manganese - iron gluconate.

Ovarian exhaustion syndrome. IVF with SIA
girls, hi! Well, I'm on short notice. On November 1, I was at RE- took it in the protocol, according to.

Do you need a third one?
Hello girls. More than 7 years have passed since the terrible loss of my first child, this one was.

Our 5th baby
Yesterday I went to the ultrasound to see how our 5th baby is growing))) Everything is fine. According to M, the period is 8 + 2 weeks.

Test mom check. DPO not known
The second month I continuously drink ok Belara. There were 4 tablets left from the second pack, my chest began to hurt.

144 hours after injection of hCG 6000 IU
I can’t figure out if he came out or is something else visible? I stabbed on 11dts at 18:00, on 12dts was Oh, confirm.

sperm plant
Family planning is an important and responsible matter, but, alas, women become pregnant every year.

The position of the cervix is an additional sign of ovulation
When planning pregnancy or, conversely, when using natural methods of contraception.

Factors Affecting Basal Temperature
Plotting basal body temperature require the fulfillment of a number of measurement rules. Female organ.

Source: www.babyplan.ru

What worries the child? How can one interpret certain of his gestures and actions? Maybe it means something? Parents of infants often ask themselves such questions. After all, a child under the age of one year will not be able to clearly explain to you what worries him, but he will be able to show it.

reasons interest there may be several to the ears of a small growing man. Firstly, it may be a new body part that the baby has discovered and enjoys exploring. This reason should not cause concern to parents, this is just a stage of development. Soon the child's interest in the ear will disappear and possibly switch to another part of the body or surrounding objects. Also, many children begin to pull at their ears and rub their eyes when they want to sleep. This serves as a signal for more relaxed communication and games with the child for a further transition to sleep.

The worst reason elevated the child's interest in the ear may be conditions and diseases that cause him anxiety. Cutting teeth, the presence of a sore throat in a child, lymphadenitis may be manifested by an increased interest in the ear area. The child will constantly touch the parotid region, pull on the ear. Sometimes foreign bodies in the external auditory canal can cause concern to the child. This may be a sulfur plug or a piece of cotton wool accidentally left at the toilet of the external auditory canal. Change general condition- fever, anxiety, crying of the child should alert the parents and be the reason for going to the doctor.

The most common cause of increased interest to the ear - ear pain caused by otitis ( inflammatory disease middle or outer ear). A child from the age of four months tries to reach out to a sore ear or rub it against a pillow. Ear infections are quite common in young children. This can be explained by the structural features of the nasopharynx and the auditory tube, which is a natural communication of the middle ear cavity with the external environment. In infants, the Eustachian tube is short and wide, located in the same horizontal plane with the nasopharynx. All these factors contribute to the rapid penetration of microorganisms into the middle ear cavity. Also permanent horizontal position infant contributes to the possible entry of mucus from the nasopharynx into the auditory tube.

What other signs otitis media the child should alert the mother? This is the child’s anxiety, continuous crying, the inability to calm down, the child sucks the breast worse, the temperature rises, the baby holds on to the ear, scratches it, rubs its head against the pillow, pressing against the sore ear, falls asleep better.

Severe otitis media in children chest age may be accompanied by the phenomena of meningism - throwing back the head, protrusion of the fontanelles, tension of the arms and legs. Sometimes gastrointestinal disorders may occur in the form of vomiting and diarrhea. Discharge from the ear is one of the clearest signs of the disease, but the eardrum in children is thicker than in adults, so perforation and, as a result, suppuration are rare in practice.

When a child develops the above symptoms you should immediately consult a doctor and do not self-medicate. As a rule, a local pediatrician is called to the house, who may suspect otitis media and recommend an ENT consultation. The final diagnosis is made by an otorhinolaryngologist based on characteristic features diseases and mandatory examination of the eardrum - otoscopy and prescribes appropriate treatment.

What are the precautions should be observed to reduce the risk of otitis media in an infant? Need to keep as long as possible breast-feeding baby, as a source of protective forces of a growing organism. When feeding, it is better to hold the baby more upright, this will reduce the risk of fluid being thrown into the ear through the auditory tube. If the baby has a cold, it is important to remember that in the supine position, mucus stagnation forms in the nasopharynx and the risk of infection entering the middle ear cavity increases. Here, an aspirator will come to your aid to remove pathological contents from the nasal cavity and change the position of the baby, turning from one side to the other will reduce the likelihood of mucus stagnation.
Thus, the seemingly harmless interest of your baby in the ears can be the cause of many diseases. Every mom should know this.

Source: meduniver.com

If the baby furiously scratches and pulls his ears, this cannot go unnoticed by the parents. And if this happens rarely, then there are no special reasons for worrying, but if the baby does this all the time, and, worse, combs the auricles into the blood, then the problem is obvious. Only the reasons for such strange behavior remain hidden. We will try to understand them in the framework of this article.

The baby cannot tell his parents what exactly worries him, but he tries in every possible way to draw attention to his well-being. And the reason may not be in the ears at all. Toddlers are quite inquisitive and they like to get to know their own body. A child may poke at his ears just out of curiosity, feel and explore them.

But things don't always work out in such a harmless way. Most often, a child scratches his ears because he has uncomfortable or moderate pain in the hearing organs or somewhere nearby, because it is still difficult for the child to understand exactly where to scratch if it itches. Acute pain usually does not cause a desire to scratch the sore spot, and touching is very uncomfortable. But prolonged sluggish irritation may well be the reason for such behavior. Let's look at the possible pathological and physiological causes that may be present.

The desire to comb the ears occurs in a child for the following reasons:

Violation of hygiene. If a child is rarely bathed, then the reason why he pulls his ears may lie in the banal pollution of the auricles and the skin fold behind them. Also, excessive accumulated earwax can cause discomfort. Parents can cope with such a problem on their own, without seeking help from a pediatrician.

With similar symptoms, you should immediately contact a pediatrician, and preferably an infectious disease specialist, if there is such a doctor in the clinic.

Otitis. Only otitis externa can itch and itch, it is easy to recognize it by inflammation of the auricle. Quite often there are abscesses and boils. Otitis media does not itch, but hurts. However, a newborn and infant cannot clearly communicate this, and simply rubs his ear, not understanding where and what is going wrong. You can suspect otitis media by the characteristic discharge from the ear. They may be clear, yellowish, or purulent. If you easily press your fingers on the tragus (a small cartilage located right at the entrance to the ear canal, then the pain intensifies, and the baby begins to worry and cry.

You need to contact a pediatrician or an otolaryngologist without delay.

Otomycosis. Fungal infection of the hearing organs causes itching and a lot of unpleasant impressions. It is noteworthy that such a pathology develops for a very long time, gradually and almost imperceptibly. At first there is a slight itch, then it grows. The baby will scratch his ear with bouts, as itching sensations appear. There is practically no pain with otomycosis. It is very difficult to suspect such a disease. Parents may be alerted by a slight swelling in the ear canal, sometimes whitish discharge (not always), as well as a possible decrease in hearing acuity, with which the baby will respond to a constant feeling of congestion. It is possible to establish otomycosis only with the help of laboratory diagnostics, microscopic examination which will detect fungi. You will have to be treated by an infectious disease specialist and an otolaryngologist.

Psoriasis. Itching and unpleasant burning sensation causes a child and psoriasis, if it develops in the ear area. Seborrheic psoriasis can affect both the auricle and the middle ear area. With this disease, a red rash first appears. With her appearance, the child begins to scratch his ear. Then there is a strong peeling, the skin can acquire a whitish tint, the scales of the epidermis are separated very easily. With suspicions of such a pathology, the child is taken to an appointment with a dermatologist and an ENT doctor.
Allergy. An allergic reaction may well cause itching in the ear. Usually, in this case, the skin is practically not changed, sometimes there may be a slight swelling. It all depends on what type of allergic reaction began to develop. If she caused allergic otitis, then there will be no discharge from the ear, as with otitis media. But pressure on the tragus will show that inflammation of the middle ear is the cause.

If the allergy manifests itself in the form of dermatitis, then it is unlikely that the symptoms will concern only the hearing organs. Skin rashes are sure to be found in other parts of the body. with a suspicion of allergic reaction you should contact a pediatrician, an allergist and an ENT specialist.

Insect bites. If the child is bitten by a mosquito or other insect, then the itching in the area of the bite will not be particularly long. True, a child may begin to comb his ear in his sleep, because insect bites not only itch on their own, but also cause local inflammation, and sometimes a slight allergic reaction. Parents can cope with such a problem on their own, without going to the doctor. If you manage to find a bite, it is lubricated " Fenistil". Even without this, the bite will not bother the baby for a long time, and after a couple of days the child will stop scratching the ear.
Foreign object. If a child has something foreign in his ear, then it will justifiably disturb him. If the parents managed to see the foreign body, then you can get it with the help of small tweezers and on your own. But if the object is located deep, in order to avoid injury to the hearing organs, it is better to seek help from an otolaryngologist who, using special tools, will be able to remove the object without pain and the risk of injury.

If the child began to scratch his ears, then it is necessary to conduct the first home examination. First, the child's temperature is measured. Elevated temperature is usually characteristic of otitis media, teething, inflammation in the hearing organs.

Then you need to examine the auricle. To do this, use a small household flashlight. First, assess the condition of the auricle - the size, the presence of swelling, rash, abscesses, peeling. If nothing is found, examine the ear canal with a flashlight.

The accumulation of earwax, discharge from the ear, a foreign body in the ear canal, as well as insect bites, in most cases, can be seen by everyone, even parents who are not savvy in medicine. After examination, a test for otitis media is carried out, lightly pressing on the tragus. If there is no response to pressing, it is worth considering other reasons.

Undress the child and inspect the skin for rashes and possible allergies. If the temperature is normal, the ear is visually healthy, it does not hurt, then it is worth watching the child, in what situations and how he scratches his ear, perhaps the reasons lie in a completely different way.

If the pathology is not detected, then it is worth considering other the reasons why the baby theoretically and practically can start scratching the ear:

Syndrome of obsessive movements. If the child is already a year old or more, then he can scratch his ears for psychological and neurological reasons. This may be a consequence of the severe stress that the baby has experienced. Sometimes we are talking about the so-called obsessive movements syndrome. In this case, parents may notice that the child does not always start scratching his ears, but in strictly defined situations associated with excitement and feelings. So, at the physical level, the little one is trying to sublimate his accumulated nervous tension. You should contact a neurologist, a child psychologist and a child psychiatrist.
Teeth. Unpleasant and obsessive itching in the gum area can also make a child want to scratch his ear. This usually happens when the baby is 5-6 months old and older, when the teething period begins. This version can be confirmed by swollen gums on the side from which the child pulls the ear. In the absence of pathological symptoms from the ears, it is worth considering this version of what is happening.
Hunger or fatigue. It is very difficult, from a medical point of view, to explain why a child scratches his ears when he wants to sleep or eat. But the fact remains - very often little children react in this way to fatigue and hunger. They not only rub their eyes and nose, but also pull their ears.

If after the child was fed from the heart, watered and put to bed, he stopped scratching his ear, then probably the parents were able to unravel the secret “signals” of the little man.

Reasons why children pull their ears

You may have noticed that small children twitch or pull on their ears. This is very common and usually nothing to worry about. In infants and young children, pulling on the ears may be a sign that your child is tired or ears are blocked with wax.

When to See a Doctor Who Pulls on Your Ears

Difficulty in the ears can also sometimes be a sign of an ear infection. Teething is often blamed for ear closure, but it is not clear if there is a link between teething and twitching. You think he might have an ear infection, your child is in a bad mood, and you have a fever for no apparent reason that you think your child might have put something in his ear. Holding onto the ears and pulling on the ears is usually nothing to worry about.

The worst reason elevated the child's interest in the ear may be conditions and diseases that cause him anxiety. Cutting teeth, the presence of a sore throat in a child, lymphadenitis may be manifested by an increased interest in the ear area. The child will constantly touch the parotid region, pull on the ear. Sometimes foreign bodies in the external auditory canal can cause concern to the child. This may be a sulfur plug or a piece of cotton wool accidentally left at the toilet of the external auditory canal. A change in the general condition - fever, anxiety, crying of the child should alert the parents and be the reason for going to the doctor.

If you think your child is tugging at her ears because she is tired, you can try to calm her down for sleep or give her some quiet time. If your child has an ear infection, they may need antibiotics. Don't try to clean your child's ears with things like cotton tips. Avoid putting anything in your child's ear canal.

Is this an infection in the baby's ear? 7 Home tests can tell you

If you think your child is experiencing teething pain, you can try giving her the recommended dose. Stanton, Nelson Primer of Pediatrics. Sleep and oral health. Child Care and Children's Health, 14, 1 Brown, Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Determination, Current diagnosis and treatment: Pediatrics.

Condition of the ears, nose and throat.
Signs, Pediatric reference book.
Spicy otitis media and otitis media with effusion.
Flint, Cummings Pediatric Otolaryngology.
Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.

An infant ear infection can leave a good night empty just like other things.

The most common cause of increased interest to the ear - ear pain caused by otitis media (an inflammatory disease of the middle or outer ear). A child from the age of four months tries to reach out to a sore ear or rub it against a pillow. Ear infections are quite common in young children. This can be explained by the structural features of the nasopharynx and the auditory tube, which is a natural communication of the middle ear cavity with the external environment. In infants, the Eustachian tube is short and wide, located in the same horizontal plane with the nasopharynx. All these factors contribute to the rapid penetration of microorganisms into the middle ear cavity. Also, the constant horizontal position of the baby contributes to the possible entry of mucus from the nasopharynx into the auditory tube.

The spontaneous scream that comes from a previously serene nursery can crush you to the bone. Everyone is haunted by the lingering question: what is wrong with her? Speaking from experience, an "unknown" newborn ear infection is a hard pill to swallow. Here are some tips and tricks to help you determine when she might need that doctor visit.

Ear infections are extremely common in children and young children. In fact, nearly two-thirds of all children will have at least one ear infection by their birthday. Nearly 75% of all children will have at least one infection by age. The "witchcraft belief" for neonatal infection is 6-18 months.

Severe otitis media in children chest age may be accompanied by phenomena - tilting the head, protrusion of the fontanelles, tension of the arms and legs. Sometimes gastrointestinal disorders may occur in the form of vomiting and diarrhea. Discharge from the ear is one of the clearest signs of the disease, but the eardrum in children is thicker than in adults, so perforation and, as a result, suppuration are rare in practice.

The most common ear infection for babies is a middle ear infection, called acute otitis media in medical jargon. The middle ear is an air-filled space behind the eardrum and in front of the Eustachian tubes that connect to the back of the throat. This is the area that contains all the tiny bones that transmit sound from the eardrum to the inner ear.

Infected Infection: Causes of Newborn Ear Infection

The Eustachian tubes are vital for excretion and other fluids that drain from the ear and down the throat. In a healthy body, the tubes are allowed to drain when your baby yawns or swallows. Ear infections never happen on their own. They are always haunted by some kind of nose or upper respiratory annoyance - such a cold, an allergy or a flu. The disease then blocks the Eustachian tubes at the back of the throat - usually by draining mucus from the nose.

When a child develops the above symptoms you should immediately consult a doctor and do not self-medicate. As a rule, a local pediatrician is called to the house, who may suspect otitis media and recommend an ENT consultation. The final diagnosis is made by an otorhinolaryngologist on the basis of the characteristic signs of the disease and the mandatory examination of the eardrum - otoscopy, and prescribes the appropriate treatment.

Any fluid left in the tubes settles in the inner ear and waits for bacteria to pass through. Bacteria love the warm temperature of their private pool, so they invite Mrs. Of course, a growing family will need more space, so the tissue and eardrum will swell and become increasingly irritated while your child calls the National Guard to kick out the squatters.

Your child: a magnet for ear infections

Why do children have more ear infections? First of all, their immune system is still developing, which makes them more prone to illness. Secondly, these small Eustachian tubes are very short and horizontal. As your child grows, they will grow longer and more upright, which will help the ear drain naturally. Which children are more likely to fight ear infections?

What are the precautions should be observed to reduce the risk of otitis media in an infant? It is necessary to keep breastfeeding the baby as long as possible, as a source of defenses for a growing organism. When feeding, it is better to hold the baby more upright, this will reduce the risk of fluid being thrown into the ear through the auditory tube. If the baby has a cold, it is important to remember that in the supine position, mucus stagnation forms in the nasopharynx and the risk of infection entering the middle ear cavity increases. Here, an aspirator will come to your aid to remove pathological contents from the nasal cavity and change the position of the baby, turning from one side to the other will reduce the likelihood of mucus stagnation.
Thus, the seemingly harmless interest of your baby in the ears can be the cause of many diseases. Every mom should know this.

Testing for symptoms of an ear infection

Breastfeeding children who are allowed to self-feed on their backNational American and Eskimo children. Infants in day care with more than 5-6 children. . Capturing the symptoms of an ear infection can be tricky. Every child is different and shows symptoms differently. After all, it is unlikely that your child will suddenly sit up and announce: Mummy, my middle ear is showing a painful sensation! As always, we need to decipher the clues and put them into action.

Here are some "infection tests" to watch. If several symptoms seem to pass the tests, go ahead and make an appointment. Alone, they can mean nothing, but linked together, these tests make a compelling case for treatment.

Why does the child touch his ears? Every parent has asked himself this question. It occurs especially brightly when the child is very small and does not know how to talk. Parents can only guess. And in order not to guess “on the coffee grounds”, you need to contact a pediatrician with this question. He will recommend a series of studies to identify the root cause of the child's anxiety in the ear area.

Second test: pulling or tightening the ears

Has my infant been exposed to secondhand smoke for extended periods of time?

Has my child had a cold, allergies, or the flu recently?
Has my child had acid reflux?
Let my baby drink the bottle, her back?

The "tug test" is unreliable with infants less than 3 months old, as they have no control over their hands. She cannot consciously point or touch harmful areas of her body at this young age. In addition to hand grooming, you can also look for excessive head shaking or even hitting your head on the floor or crib.

There are a lot of reasons for the occurrence of pathologies in the ear zone of children - from the ingress of a small object into the ear, ending with otitis media of various degrees in the outer, middle and even inner parts of the ear system. The latter type of disease is extremely rare and is associated with the transmission of infection through the blood and through lymphatic system. Other types of diseases are often diagnosed in young patients. According to statistics, pathologies in the ears in babies often occur after or during colds. Ear diseases are more likely to affect children with low immunity, rickets, after illnesses, etc.

Side Note: Again, this test is not definitive in itself. There are many other reasons why your child may have ear tugging too: itching, teething, exploration, comfort, or simple habit. However, with that said, only one third of babies ever actually develop a fever. This is why this test should be used in conjunction with others, and never on its own.

Test test: Irritability at night

As an overnight fix, you can try putting a thin pillow under your crib mattress. This will lift the mattress slightly and help the fluid from the pool in your ears and nose. If you do this, remove all bumpers from the crib. Also, if you're worried your baby might slip down, we rolled up a hand towel and placed it under our baby's bottom to help her move to the bottom of the crib.

Fungal otitis media

One of the types of otitis media -. It is caused by the presence of a fungus in the baby's body. This is an acquired disease. This type of infection can be transmitted both through the outer ear and by getting the fungus into the sinuses of the nose, for example, when washing the nose with a runny nose. Also, the fungus can be brought into the middle ear by incorrect medical manipulations. The main causes of fungal otitis include:

Fifth Test: Temporary Hearing Loss

Although this sounds terrible, it is not a sign of impending deafness. Call your doctor to treat the infection, the hole will usually heal.

Test Seven: Other Possible Symptoms

Final exam: when to call the doctor.

Does the baby cry during feeding?
Sucking and swallowing cause painful pressure changes in the middle ear.
Is this during "cold and flu season"?
Some viral infections affect digestion.

Prevention of infant ear infections.

Babies can't tell us much - not where it hurts, not how it hurts, not whether the treatment makes it better. Many pediatricians say that diagnosing babies is similar to veterinary medicine. Ear infections in infants can be difficult to diagnose. Veterinary.

prolonged illness of the baby;
active drug treatment;
trauma;
getting small objects in the ear, etc.

The disease can occur when the microflora of the child's body is disturbed, which can be caused by any reason:

mechanical;
physical;
chemical;
thermal.

Allergic reaction

Most common diagnosis in infancy

Let's look at a common diagnosis in infancy: otitis media. Ear infections. Parents bring their children to their paperwork saying they believe the youngest has an ear infection.

Why do they think they have an ear infection

The younger runs low-grade fever, drools, bangs his ears or puts his fingers in his ears, angrily, didn't sleep well. Let's see what happens next in 90% of doctor's offices. Doc looks at Jr's ear drums - to be more precise, attempts to look at Jr's ear drums. Guess what the eardrum looks like when they're fighting or screaming - that's right: it's red or pink. As we are trained to do, the doc adds it all: low-grade fevers; inserting fingers into ears, striking ears; irritability; do not sleep, but the red drum!

Acute otitis media - ear infection

The younger is understandably fussy. . Don't be mean to the doctors, but this baby is teething.

Most often, ear diseases overcome children with allergies. Allergy is already the occurrence of pathogenic microflora in the body. And with its development, it affects not only the outer skin, but can also spread to all the mucous membranes of the child's organs. Then the harmful microflora enters the middle ear of the child, causing damage to organs and tissues. Moreover, no infection is observed during the diagnosis. And the child constantly pulls his ears, is worried. The causes of such otitis in most cases are hereditary. But they can also be acquired in connection with:

The symptom that was missed was drooling. Don't make me start with what all these unnecessary antibiotics are doing to develop drug-resistant bacteria! The symptoms that confuse people are the symptoms of "putting fingers in the ears" or "hitting the ears".

Why does itching cause babies to dig out their ears?

The ear canal and middle ear are innervated by several nerves, including some that also innervate the mandible, where new teeth emerge. These sensory nerves do not provide the same sensation as your fingers. They do not provide an accurate, pinpoint sensation of pain. The painful sensation is indistinct, deep.

difficult childbirth;
bad ecology;
weak immunity of the baby.

Other reasons

Pathologies in the ear zone often occur in children:

having anemia;
underweight;
having adenoids in the nasopharynx;
suffering from various diseases of the throat or nose.

Whatever the reason for the child's discomfort in the ear, it is necessary to go to the doctor to get the necessary advice, and, if necessary, an appointment for treatment.
The pain that some babies experience from teething, or from the back of the throat or the back of the nose, may feel like a deep pain in the ear. Just ask anyone who has experienced pain from a tonsillectomy. Deep ear pain is the #2 complaint after tonsillectomy!

Itchy babies simply feel that something deep in the ear canal or throat is sore. The most comfortable to grip is the outer ear. It is also important to "inflate" with the airflow to see how easily the ear drum moves. Yes, it's a tricky subject with a writhing, screaming baby.

Doctors explain frequent ear diseases in children under 5 years of age by the horizontal location of the Eustachian tube. In fact, this auditory canal performs a protective function of the middle ear and prevents a huge number of diseases of the ear zone. But in a horizontal position, the auditory tube allows harmful organisms to freely enter and spread in the ear zone. After it changes position and goes into a vertical state. creating a natural barrier to microbes, viruses, bacteria.

But if the ear drum moves - and it does in most cases - there is no fluid in the middle ear. No fluid in the middle ear means an acute infection. In these cases, these symptoms must be from something other than an ear infection. It's worth repeating: not an ear infection.

Most of the time it's a cutting pain!

Soothing a teething baby is a bit like trying to calm colic. Greene's blog post on teething pain for an excellent description of the basic medical problem approach to the problem. Since there are not enough resources for natural options, let's take a look at some of them here. Chamomile soothes, soothes. Do herbal tea with chamomile.

Therefore, the pathology of the ears in young children can easily be provoked by:

overheating or hypothermia;
when taking a bath;
strong gusty winds, etc.

Associated symptoms

Why else can a child tug at their ears? Parents will not know until they determine with a doctor what the symptoms are that bother the baby. Maybe not only:

Suddenly a small child experiences:

heaviness in the head;
headache, etc.

All these are symptoms of serious diseases of the ear system, which can only be diagnosed by a specialist.

In addition, the doctor determines if there is discharge from the ears - this is also one of the accompanying symptoms.

Do I need to see a doctor

Just watching a child pulling his ears and wondering what happened to him is not worth it. The doctor will help determine the nature and cause of the disease, identify the main causative agent of inflammation, learn about existing concomitant diseases and thereby accurately diagnose. And the correct diagnosis is already half the success of further treatment of the baby.

If parents are not in a hurry to see a doctor, then they expose the baby to the risk of serious ear diseases - up to deafness.

Treatment

After a thorough and careful diagnosis, the child can be prescribed drugs that will help rid him of the pathology in the ear zone.

Fungal otitis media

Treatment of fungal otitis is aimed at the destruction of the pathogenic fungus. To do this, the doctor must choose the most optimal variant of the drug, which:

will not additionally violate the microflora of the child;
remove fungi from the body as much as possible;
will not adversely affect immune system baby.

If necessary, the doctor will prescribe vitamins, with an additional infection - antibacterial drugs. The doctor will try to avoid antibiotic treatment as much as possible, but if this is not possible due to the development of the disease, then antibiotic therapy will be prescribed - both internally and externally. Intramuscular or intravenous injections are also possible.

But on the first day of admission, the doctor will wash the child's auricle with antifungal agents.

allergies

With allergies, it is aimed at combating allergic reactions. The doctor determines the child's diet, the necessary vitamins and drugs - to increase immunity. If allergic otitis occurs due to bronchial asthma, then it is necessary to exclude the main allergen. They can be pet hair, dust, smoke, etc. The treatment of such children is carried out mainly with antiallergic drugs and diet therapy. If the allergy has touched the outer ear, then ointments, gels, drops are prescribed for external use.

Alternative treatment

What complementary therapy may be recommended by your doctor? folk remedies: herbs, propolis, sunbathing, etc. Often the doctor recommends teas based on herbs that have antiseptic properties:

St. John's wort;
aloe, etc.

It is not recommended to give the child these decoctions, teas and infusions.

Prevention

Going to the doctor in time is the key to the health of your child. It is no coincidence that in the first year of your baby's life you constantly go to the pediatrician, who, after a thorough examination of the child, can promptly identify deviations. Then he directs you to a narrower specialist to undergo a diagnosis and find out if there are reasons for concern. Don't skip a doctor's visit. And if you see that something is bothering the child, then immediately go to the clinic for consultations. If the baby is healthy, then maintain this health:

frequent walks;
proper nutrition;
obligatory daytime sleep;
compliance with the daily regimen and nutrition;
hardening procedures and so on.

Monitor your baby's behavior. If he pulls at his ear and starts to cry - these are not just whims, this is a reason to see a doctor.

If the baby constantly touches his ears, rubs, pulls and scratches them, parents begin to think about the reason for this behavior. It's good if he tries to get to know himself better in this way. However, sometimes the cause can be related to various health problems.

Why does the child pull and scratch his ears

Why does the baby pull and scratch his ears? The reasons may be different. The most common are infections and allergens. However, a child can pull and scratch his ears and because of insufficient cleanliness of the auricles. In infants, this reaction is often due to simple curiosity.

Violation of hygiene

If the mother does not pay enough attention to the hygiene of the baby, it is not surprising that the child touches the ears. Infrequent bathing and lack of cleaning of the auricles lead to pollution of the inner cavity of the ears and the folds of the skin behind them. As a result, the baby begins to experience discomfort, which he tries to cope with by pulling his ears.

Lack of hygiene also leads to the accumulation of earwax in the ear canal. If the reason for the child's excessive attention to his ears is hidden in non-compliance with hygiene standards, this problem can be solved at home without going to the doctor. It is enough to clean the ears correctly and properly.

Various diseases

There are several diseases and conditions that can trigger negative manifestations. These include:

anemia;
underweight baby;
the presence of adenoids in the nasopharynx;
various diseases of the throat and nose.

To determine the exact cause of discomfort in the ear of the baby, you should show the attending physician who will examine the child, provide advice and, if necessary, prescribe treatment. Ear infections are most common in children under 5 years of age. The fact is that at this age the Eustachian tube is located in a horizontal position, protecting the middle ear from the development various diseases while still allowing harmful microorganisms to enter. Only after the position of the Eustachian tube changes to a vertical one, a barrier is created for viruses, bacteria and microbes.

In children under 5 years of age, ear pathologies can develop under the influence of external factors:

hypothermia or overheating;
water getting into the ear while swimming;
exposure to the auricle of a strong gusty wind.

Why does the child touch his ears? Often, parents learn from the pediatrician that the child has fungal otitis media. Such an infectious disease is acquired. The reason for its occurrence is the infection through the ear opening or sinuses (during its washing with a cold).

Other factors that affect the development of fungal otitis:

prolonged colds;
drug treatment;
trauma;
small objects in the ear.

allergic reactions

Ear diseases most often affect children with allergies. Allergy refers to the impact on the child's body of an allergen (through the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract).

If harmful microflora enters the middle ear, its tissues are affected. Diagnosis in this case does not always allow you to determine the presence of an infection, while the child is constantly worried and pulls his ear. Allergic otitis is usually inherited or develops after a difficult birth, due to poor ecology and against the background of weak immunity.

How to properly examine the baby's ear?

If the baby often pulls his ears, you need to examine the auricle. To study it at home, you need to take a flashlight. Shining inside, you should assess the condition of the auricle (the presence of a rash, swelling, peeling, abscesses). The flashlight illuminates insect bites, earwax, secretions and foreign bodies well. In addition, an otitis media test should also be performed. To do this, lightly press on the tragus. If the child does not complain and does not react in any way to pressing, the reason for his concern lies in something else.

In addition to examining the ears, a general examination should also be carried out. If the baby has a normal body temperature, there are no rashes and other manifestations of allergies, you need to carefully observe him and determine in what situations he starts scratching his ears.

Methods of treatment

To determine why the child constantly touches the ear, you should consult with a pediatrician. The doctor will examine the baby, find out the cause of his anxiety and prescribe treatment. It is possible to use medications, as well as treatment folk methods. Any methods of therapy should be used only in consultation with the attending physician.

Medical therapy

During a visit to the pediatrician, the child is carefully examined, if necessary, an additional study is taken for sowing (in order to determine the content of the microflora in the ear). This makes it easier to find out the reason why the baby rubs his ears, and, if necessary, prescribe treatment.

Depending on the disease, the following remedies may be prescribed:

medicines with an antifungal effect;
antibacterial and disinfectant solutions for skin treatment (hydrogen peroxide, manganese solution, etc.);
antihistamines in case of an allergic reaction (Suprastin, Claritin, Diazolin and others);
with otitis ear drops with anti-inflammatory effect (boric alcohol), nasal drops with diphenhydramine, Fenistil drops in the mouth.

The use of traditional medicine

Anxiety baby, which manifests itself in the form of itching of the ears, can be eliminated with proper care of the baby and compliance with hygiene standards. Ears should be cleaned with a cotton swab at least once a week. It is necessary to ensure that the villi do not remain in the ear canal. The baby's room needs to be ventilated, wet cleaning done, it is better to take out possible sources of allergies (for example, flowering plants).

Preventive measures

How to protect your child from ear diseases? Otorhinolaryngologists insist on the following recommendations:

frequent walks in the fresh air;
balanced diet;
obligatory daytime sleep;
proper blowing - mucus should not get into the ears;
the use of vasoconstrictor nasal drops at the first symptoms of otitis media;
hardening;
after the pool, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the auricle with a cotton swab;
examination for the presence of adenoids and, if necessary, their removal.

When does it happen?

But things don't always work out in such a harmless way. Most often, the child scratches his ears because he has uncomfortable or moderate pain in the hearing organs or somewhere nearby, because it is still difficult for the child to understand exactly where to scratch if it itches. Acute pain usually does not cause a desire to scratch the sore spot, and touching is very uncomfortable. But prolonged sluggish irritation may well be the reason for such behavior. Let's look at the possible pathological and physiological causes that may be present.

Possible reasons

The desire to comb the ears occurs in a child for the following reasons:

Violation of hygiene. If a child is rarely bathed, then the reason why he pulls his ears may lie in the banal pollution of the auricles and the skin fold behind them. Also, excessive accumulated earwax can cause discomfort. Parents can cope with such a problem on their own, without seeking help from a pediatrician.

With similar symptoms, you should immediately contact a pediatrician, and preferably an infectious disease specialist, if there is such a doctor in the clinic.

Otitis. Only otitis externa can itch and itch, it is easy to recognize it by inflammation of the auricle. Quite often there are abscesses and boils. Otitis media does not itch, but hurts. However, a newborn and infant cannot clearly communicate this, and simply rubs his ear, not understanding where and what is going wrong. You can suspect otitis media by the characteristic discharge from the ear. They may be clear, yellowish, or purulent. If you easily press your fingers on the tragus (a small cartilage located right at the entrance to the ear canal, then the pain intensifies, and the baby starts to worry and cry.

You need to contact a pediatrician or an otolaryngologist without delay.

Otomycosis. Fungal infection of the hearing organs causes itching and a lot of unpleasant impressions. It is noteworthy that such a pathology develops for a very long time, gradually and almost imperceptibly. At first there is a slight itch, then it grows. The baby will scratch his ear with bouts, as itching sensations appear. There is practically no pain with otomycosis. It is very difficult to suspect such a disease. Parents may be alerted by a slight swelling in the ear canal, sometimes whitish discharge (not always), as well as a possible decrease in hearing acuity, with which the baby will respond to a constant feeling of congestion. It is possible to establish otomycosis only with the help of laboratory diagnostics, a microscopic examination that will detect fungi. You will have to be treated by an infectious disease specialist and an otolaryngologist.

Psoriasis. Itching and unpleasant burning sensation causes a child and psoriasis, if it develops in the ear area. Seborrheic psoriasis can affect both the auricle and the middle ear area. With this disease, a red rash first appears. With her appearance, the child begins to scratch his ear. Then there is a strong peeling, the skin can acquire a whitish tint, the scales of the epidermis are separated very easily. With suspicions of such a pathology, the child is taken to an appointment with a dermatologist and an ENT doctor.
Allergy. An allergic reaction may well cause itching in the ear. Usually, in this case, the skin is practically not changed, sometimes there may be a slight swelling. It all depends on what type of allergic reaction began to develop. If she caused allergic otitis, then there will be no discharge from the ear, as with otitis media. But pressure on the tragus will show that inflammation of the middle ear is the cause.

If the allergy manifests itself in the form of dermatitis, then it is unlikely that the symptoms will concern only the hearing organs. Skin rashes are sure to be found in other parts of the body. With a suspicion of an allergic reaction, you should contact your pediatrician, allergist and ENT.

Insect bites. If the child is bitten by a mosquito or other insect, then the itching in the area of the bite will not be particularly long. True, a child may begin to comb his ear in his sleep, because insect bites not only itch on their own, but also cause local inflammation, and sometimes a slight allergic reaction. Parents can cope with such a problem on their own, without going to the doctor. If you manage to find a bite, it is lubricated " Fenistil". Even without this, the bite will not bother the baby for a long time, and after a couple of days the child will stop scratching the ear.
Foreign object. If a child has something foreign in his ear, then it will justifiably disturb him. If the parents managed to see the foreign body, then you can get it with the help of small tweezers and on your own. But if the object is located deep, in order to avoid injury to the hearing organs, it is better to seek help from an otolaryngologist who, using special tools, will be able to remove the object without pain and the risk of injury.

How to examine a child?

If no obvious cause is found

If the pathology is not detected, then it is worth considering other the reasons why the baby theoretically and practically can start scratching the ear:

Syndrome of obsessive movements. If the child is already a year old or more, then he can scratch his ears for psychological and neurological reasons. This may be a consequence of the severe stress that the baby has experienced. Sometimes we are talking about the so-called obsessive movements syndrome. In this case, parents may notice that the child does not always start scratching his ears, but in strictly defined situations associated with excitement and feelings. So, at the physical level, the little one is trying to sublimate his accumulated nervous tension. You should contact a neurologist, a child psychologist and a child psychiatrist.
Teeth. Unpleasant and obsessive itching in the gum area can also make a child want to scratch his ear. This usually happens when the baby is 5-6 months old and older, when the teething period begins. This version can be confirmed by swollen gums on the side from which the child pulls the ear. In the absence of pathological symptoms from the ears, it is worth considering this version of what is happening.
Hunger or fatigue. It is very difficult, from a medical point of view, to explain why a child scratches his ears when he wants to sleep or eat. But the fact remains - very often little children react in this way to fatigue and hunger. They not only rub their eyes and nose, but also pull their ears.

If after the child was fed from the heart, watered and put to bed, he stopped scratching his ear, then probably the parents were able to unravel the secret “signals” of the little man.

For information on how to properly clean the ears of a child and an adult, see the following video.

The worst reason elevated the child's interest in the ear may be conditions and diseases that cause him anxiety. Cutting teeth, the presence of a sore throat in a child, lymphadenitis may be manifested by an increased interest in the ear area. The child will constantly touch the parotid region, pull on the ear. Sometimes foreign bodies in the external auditory canal can cause concern to the child. This may be a sulfur plug or a piece of cotton wool accidentally left at the toilet of the external auditory canal. A change in the general condition - fever, anxiety, crying of the child should alert the parents and be the reason for going to the doctor.

When a child develops the above symptoms you should immediately consult a doctor and do not self-medicate. As a rule, a local pediatrician is called to the house, who may suspect otitis media and recommend an ENT consultation. The final diagnosis is made by an otorhinolaryngologist on the basis of the characteristic signs of the disease and the mandatory examination of the eardrum - otoscopy, and prescribes the appropriate treatment.

- Return to the section heading " "