Ear Infection For Children
Ear infections in children are widespread, and quite often, there is no need for antibiotics. In children, the ear infection can be an infection or fluid in the middle part of the ear, the mastoid bone.
Here we will learn how to cure such infections at home with natural remedies (or remedies based on herbs), without taking antibiotics, and without having to go to the doctor every time you think your child has an ear infection.
Treatment of Ear Infections without Antibiotics:
More than 90% of the cases that require antibiotics are treated with natural medicine. It’s good news because it means you don’t have to go through all those side effects and because it doesn’t cost a fortune! And hey, why not? If it’s curable with nature, why use antibiotics, right?
Symptoms of Ear Infections in Children:
Some of the most common symptoms are fever, earache, redness in the ear canal, and pus in the ear. These are similar to other diseases so take your child to a doctor if you aren’t sure.
Natural Remedies for Ear Infection in Children:
The following treatments can be used at home. Don’t hesitate to ask your pediatrician before trying them out!
1- Saltwater for Ear Infections in Children:
This remedy works well because it kills bacteria and clears up any fluid blocking the eardrum (caused by an infection). What you will need is warm water, salt, and a dropper. Mix one teaspoon of salt in warm water, and using the dropper, you will put three drops in the ear every two hours.
2- Olive Oil for Ear Infections in Children:
This is often used instead of medicine because it soothes the inflammation and acts as an antiseptic (kills germs). We need olive oil, a bulb syringe (you can get them at drugstores), and hydrogen peroxide (3%).
Fill the bulb syringe with half olive oil and half hydrogen peroxide (you can add more or less depending on how you want to use it), mix well. Put three drops in each ear with help from your child by holding them and putting the head to the side. Do this after feeding your baby or before bed once or twice daily.
3- Garlic Oil for Ear Infections in Children:
Garlic is a natural antibiotic, so it’s excellent when fighting ear infections since it kills germs and inflammation, what we need: garlic sprouts (you can get them at any Asian supermarket), olive oil, bulb syringe (or dropper if you don’t have one).
Peel off five garlic sprout leaves and put in two tablespoons of warm olive oil until they dissolve. Take the bulb syringe (or dropper) and fill it with half garlic oil and half hydrogen peroxide. Put three drops in each ear every two hours.
4- Warm compress for Ear Infections in Children:
This is used to relieve earaches and congestion due to fluid buildup. What you will need: a towel, warm water, and two bowls (the bowl that will be placed on the child’s head should be smaller than the other). Put one bowl inside the further than put hot water in both until steam arises.
Place a towel over the child’s head to cover their ears. Wait about five minutes so the heat can relax the muscles around the ear canal before placing the bowl on the child’s head (make sure it fits perfectly, or else it won’t work!). Keep this position for 15 minutes twice daily.
5- Saltwater with Hydrogen Peroxide for Ear Infections in Children:
This is another treatment using saltwater. You can put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide instead of olive oil if you find it more effective.
You will need warm water, salt, and hydrogen peroxide (3%). Mix one teaspoon of salt to every cup of warm water, then add three drops of hydrogen peroxide into each ear once or twice daily.
6- Ear Candling for Ear Infections in Children:
Ear candling has been used for centuries by many cultures as a natural remedy for hearing problems, ear infections, among other things. It works well because it changes pressure around the ear canal, allowing fluids to drain quickly. Just make sure you go to someone who has experience because this process is not risk-free.
7- Apply Warm Oil in the Ear for Ear Infections in Children:
This remedy is usually used on babies and toddlers by putting olive oil or garlic oil (mixed with hydrogen peroxide) into the ear to allow fluids to drain. Warm water can also be used instead of oil if you prefer it.
What we need:
warm water and olive oil or hydrogen peroxide (you can use equal parts of both). Put five drops into each ear every two hours until symptoms go away, then repeat once daily after that so fluid won’t get trapped again.
8- Give Vitamin C for Ear Infections in Children:
This vitamin acts as an antioxidant that helps destroy viruses and bacteria while boosting immune system function, so it should be taken when suffering from ear infections, what we need: vitamin C, filtered or bottled water, and a glass.
Put one teaspoon of vitamin C into one cup of boiling water, then mix well with the water in the glass. Give your child half of it at least three times daily for two weeks to help reduce the infection.
9- Warm Compress for Ear Infections in Children:
This is used to fight off ear infections by opening blocked Eustachian tubes and increasing blood flow into the area, reducing pressure and pain quickly. You can do this compress several hours after you put drops into your baby’s ears (to allow fluids to drain), although pregnant women should never do this since heat can cause uterine contractions leading to miscarriage.
What we need:
a regular towel, warm water, a bowl, and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Soak a towel in hot water, then wring it out, so it’s damp but not dripping. Place the bowl inside the rim of another bowl to make it bigger, then put a towel on top of that so heat will be trapped. Please put your child on their back with their head hanging over the edge above the bowl (making sure a towel covers their ears).
Wait about five minutes before moving the child upright to let them cool off for another five minutes or until blood flow returns to average temperature before you move them again. Do this about three times daily.
Ear infection in kids:
Ear infections in kids usually happen when a virus or bacteria spreads to the middle ear, filled with air. This can be a common problem for children since their Eustachian tubes are shorter, narrower, and more curved than adults, so they don’t drain fluids quickly. As a result, fluid accumulates around the middle ear and causes pain.
Symptoms include fever, especially with infants, headache, tugging at ears, nausea/vomiting, reduced appetite, irritability, loss of balance while walking or standing up straight due to dizziness, fluid draining from the ear canal (yellow or brown pus), mild hearing loss if untreated long enough. If your child has any of these symptoms, it’s best to see a doctor.