Health Tips for January 28

Health Tip: Children Who Are at Risk for Ear Infection

Ear infections are common in children, and may be chronic. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this list of risk factors for ear infections in children: Being around smokers. Having had a prior ear infection or a family history of ear infection. Going to day care. Being born prematurely or having a low birth weight. Having frequent colds or other infections. Going to bed with a bottle, or using a pacifier. Being a boy. Having allergy-related nasal congestion. Having nasally speech. Health Tip: Does Your Child Have an Ear Infection? Ear infections are common in babies and young children. Unfortunately, youngsters who can't talk yet aren't able to tell you when something is wrong. Here are signs, courtesy of the American College of Emergency Physicians Foundation, that your young child has an ear infection: Pain, which your baby may indicate by acting fussy, pulling on the ear, being irritable during feeding, or crying when lying down. A white or yellow drainage from the ear that may have an unpleasant odor. Difficulty hearing. A fever, usually between 100 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. (37.78 to 40 degrees Celsius).