Is your toddler showing signs of an ear infection? Schedule an appointment at an AMITA Health Medical Group location near you: https://www.amitahealth.org/medical-group/primary/family-medicine

Toddlers are especially predisposed to ear infections because their developing eardrums create a natural breeding ground for bacteria and fluid buildup, says Ryan Fitzgerald, DO, an AMITA Health Medical Group primary care doctor based in Plainfield, IL. And if they’re attending preschool, that bacteria can run rampant. That’s why it’s important for parents to recognize the signs of an ear infection in their children, particularly if they’re pre-verbal.

An untreated ear infection (or recurrent ear infections) can hinder a child’s hearing development and have lifelong consequences, including hearing loss. Proactive treatment is key to your child’s auditory health and ensuring that their developing brains are able to learn how to hear without disruption.

SYMPTOMS OF EAR INFECTION
* Pulling or tugging at the ear
* Fever or high temperature
* Changes in appetite
* Child reports that they feel like “they’re still on an airplane” or “have water in my ear”
* Dizziness
* Headache

COMMON TREATMENTS FOR EAR INFECTION
* Antibiotics (bacterial ear infections)
* Identification of social factors for the infection (at home, at daycare, etc.)
* Antihistamines
* Reintroduction of bottle use to minimize ear pain

Call 855.MyAMITA (692.6482) to schedule an appointment today.

Learn more about Dr. Fitzgerald and schedule a checkup today: https://doctors.amitahealth.org/ryan-fitzgerald-plainfield-family-medicine

Find an AMITA Health primary care doctor near you: https://www.amitahealth.org/doctor

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Why children get fevers, and when to call the doctor. https://www.chop.edu/locations

In This Video:
0:26 What is a fever?
0:43 Why do you get a fever?
1:26 Why does a fever make you feel bad?
2:14 Is a fever dangerous?
2:36 What to do when a child has a fever
3:02 Is medicine necessary for a fever?
3:33 When should I call the doctor about a fever?

A fever is a temperature greater than or equal to 100.4ºF or 38ºC. Fever in children is very common. Fever is a normal body response that helps the body fight infections.

The information in this video is for otherwise healthy children older than 3 months. If your child is younger than 3 months, or has a health problem that makes infection more likely, always call you doctor for advice when your child has a fever.

Your child’s temperature is not the most important thing to monitor when your child has a fever. Most of the time you won’t even need to take your child’s temperature. Instead, pay attention to the symptoms your child is experiencing along with the fever.

These are normal symptoms: faster heart rate and breathing; shivering; cold hands and feet; head and body aches; tired and fussy; poor appetite. You don’t necessarily need to call the doctor if your child has these symptoms.

These are abnormal symptoms: extremely sleepy or irritable; trouble breathing; rashes; pain, redness or swelling in one area (like a sore throat or a red, swollen knee); drinking very little or not at all; severely decreased urination; fever lasting longer than 3 days; seizure. You should call the doctor if your child has any of these symptoms, or if your instincts are telling you something isn’t right.

Parents worry that a high fever will cause seizures or brain damage. A high temperature will not cause brain damage, and seizures due to fever are rare.
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