Treatment of otitis in children with folk remedies

Otitis in children

Otitis is an inflammatory lesion of one of the parts of the human ear, which has an acute or chronic course. According to statistics, almost every child under three years of age experiences this disease at least once.

The division of otitis into the following forms depends on the location of the source of inflammation:

outer;
average;
interior.

In children, in most cases, otitis of the middle ear occurs. As usual, it develops as a consequence of a runny nose or other diseases. However, children may experience inflammation for no apparent reason. This is due to the fact that as a result of hypothermia, pathogenic microflora is activated.

Children most often develop otitis media

For an adult, symptoms of otitis media such as headaches and painful shootings in the ear are painful, but for children they are simply unbearable. To help their child, the first thing parents should do is show their child to an otolaryngologist.

What exactly cannot be done with otitis media?

Some actions during otitis may be not just harmful, but even dangerous. That is why we repeat once again: at the first symptoms of otitis media, you need to seek help from a doctor, and not sit at home, overcoming wild pain and trying to get rid of the disease with improvised means. Without proper treatment, otitis media inevitably turns into a more dangerous, chronic or purulent form, and in order to cope with the disease, one has to expose the body to long-term, harmful effects of combined antibiotics. If otitis media does not go away within a week, despite treatment with folk remedies, it is simply unacceptable to continue to ignore the problem and avoid visiting a doctor!

With purulent otitis it is strictly forbidden to:

Open the abscesses and try to squeeze out the pus yourself. You will probably only add more bacteria to the source of inflammation. This procedure can only be carried out with sterile instruments;
Pierce the eardrum to pump out pus from the middle ear cavity through the hole. Such barbaric manipulations almost inevitably end in partial hearing loss or complete deafness. Even if you see that the eardrum is already perforated, you cannot pump out pus from the ear yourself; this must be done by a doctor. Incorrect actions will lead to pus flowing even deeper inside. In general, a perforated eardrum is a reason to immediately seek qualified medical help. And with timely treatment, this definitely would not have happened!

Treatment of otitis in children with folk remedies

Ear inflammation almost always takes you by surprise and manifests itself as acute pain in the ear. In such situations, it is not always possible to have the necessary medications at hand that can eliminate severe pain.

Traditional medicine can be a good help in this case. However, this is not without exceptions. It is necessary to use various recipes with great caution , and best of all, after visiting a doctor and consulting with him.

It is quite possible to use folk remedies for otitis media in children as an addition to the main therapy prescribed by an ENT specialist. To do this, mom or dad just needs to inquire about the possibility of using them for the child.

If the diagnosis allows, then various traditional medicine recipes can be used. Let's talk about the most effective and safe for children.

Traditional medicine will help speed up the healing process

Medicinal herbs for otitis media in children

Nature is rich in various useful plants; you just need to learn how to skillfully handle them. It was not for nothing that our ancestors collected medicinal herbs so carefully and with such love, stocking up on them for future use.

To treat otitis media in young children, you can use the following folk remedies based on medicinal plants:

Many medicinal herbs can be found in the pharmacy

An infusion of wormwood color is something you should take care of in advance. To prepare it, you need to 1 teaspoon of wormwood flowers into 70 ml of medical alcohol , and then put it in a dark place for several weeks. After this time, you can soak a cotton ball with the product and put it in your ear overnight. The infusion has an anti-inflammatory and warming effect. Treatment should be carried out for 7 days.
Sophora infusion - just like the previous remedy, you need to prepare it in advance and have it in stock for such a case. To do this, you need to take 100 grams of crushed sophora (can be found in any pharmacy) and pour vodka . Leave for a month in a dark place. Place a few drops in the child's ear. Improvement in the condition when using this method occurs within a couple of days.
Sweet clover infusion - to prepare, you need to pour 2 tablespoons of the herb 100 ml of alcohol and let the product brew in a dark, cold place for a week. With the resulting product, you need to moisten cotton swabs and place them in the ear. The course of such treatment is a week . In the same way, you can prepare an infusion of St. John's wort or calendula . Many herbs can be found ready-made on pharmacy shelves.
Infusion of mint or lemon balm - this product is sold ready-made in pharmacies. It helps relieve pain from otitis media. Should be instilled 3 times a day.
A decoction of sorrel roots is an effective remedy for washing a sore ear.
A decoction of bay leaves is used to wash the sore ear. To prepare it, you need to pour a glass of boiling water into 2 tablespoons of crushed leaves and let it brew for 2 hours , then strain and use for its intended purpose. decoction is also suitable for these purposes .
Rose hips are rich in vitamin C
A decoction of rose hips, currants or rose petals is prepared for drinking in order to alleviate the general condition of a sick child.

The use of the above remedies in combination with medications will allow you to get the maximum effect from the treatment and improve the general condition of the baby in a short time.

Reference. Before using any infusions or decoctions for instillation into the ears, they must first be warmed to body temperature. This is necessary in order to avoid the unpleasant and painful sensations that may occur when instilling a cold product.

Treatment of otitis in a child with heating

Compresses help well in the early stages of otitis development

For non-purulent otitis media, warming and compresses help well.

In this case, parents should monitor the temperature of the compress so as not to burn the child.

To avoid this, before applying a compress to your baby, you should test it by applying it to the back of your hand.

Folk remedies for otitis in children in the form of compresses are a fairly popular method of treatment, among which the most popular are :

compress . To do this, you need to mix camphor alcohol with water in equal parts and soak a piece of gauze folded in several layers with this mixture. Apply the compress to the sore ear, cover with cellophane and insulate with a layer of cotton wool. Secure this design with a scarf or scarf. Leave for several hours, but not overnight ;
compress with camphor oil. To do this, you need to soak gauze in a warm solution and apply it to your ear, then insulate it. It is better to apply this compress at night.

Attention! Children under 1 year of age are strictly prohibited from using any product containing camphor, and children under 2 years of age should not apply compresses with this drug.

compress of vodka and honey . To do this, you need to dissolve a little honey in a small amount of vodka and then heat it. Soak a piece of gauze with the resulting mixture and apply it to the child’s sore ear. Place a film on top, cover with cotton wool and tie a scarf;
black bread compress. This remedy will help eliminate pain within 20 minutes . To do this, you need to heat the crust of black bread in a water bath on both sides. For convenience, you can put it in a strainer. Then apply the heated crust to the sore ear and insulate it with cellophane, cotton wool and a scarf. Keep this compress for at least 2 hours ;
living warmth . As such a thermal procedure, you can use a linen bag with heated salt, which must be applied to the sore ear. The bag should be wrapped in a towel first to prevent the child from getting burned. You can also use not only salt, but also grain (wheat, barley, buckwheat);
dry warmth of animal fur . A very effective way. And all because animal fur contains a special substance, lanolin, which effectively eliminates inflammation and relieves pain. Scarves made of goat down or sheep wool are suitable for these purposes.

It is worth noting that such procedures can only be carried out if the child does not have an increase in temperature. Basically, this method is effective in the initial stages of otitis development or in the final stages.

How to warm up your home

If a child has non-suppurative otitis, the disease is in the initial stage, then the inflammation can be treated by heating at home. Before the procedure, you need to measure the baby’s temperature; if it is elevated, especially more than 38 degrees, you should not warm the ears.

The compress for the treatment of otitis in children should not be hot so as not to burn the skin. A comfortable temperature is checked by applying a compress to the wrist.

Various compress options are available

To obtain dry heat, use a fabric bag filled with salt heated in a frying pan. The effectiveness of this remedy depends on the regularity of its use.
Treatment of otitis in a child with an onion compress gives good results. The onion is crushed, wrapped in a cloth and applied to the child’s ear. The compress is fixed with a scarf or bandage. You can increase the effectiveness of the product by placing the baby on a heating pad on the side of the sore ear.
An alcohol compress made from camphor alcohol or warm vodka is effective. Treatment of otitis media with alcohol compresses is performed only after consultation with a doctor. A medical bandage or gauze is folded into a strip of 6-8 layers. A compress is moistened in alcohol liquid and applied to the parotid surface. The auricle should remain free. An oilcloth or piece of polyethylene is placed on top of the gauze so that it completely covers the gauze. To keep warm, place a cotton pad on the oilcloth and wrap a scarf, scarf or diaper. With such a compress the child can be put to sleep.

Treatment of otitis in children is also carried out by heating with a blue lamp. The procedures are carried out 2-3 times a day for 10-15 minutes.

General recommendations for parents

Parental care will help the child recover faster

In addition to strict adherence to the treatment regimen prescribed by the doctor and additional therapy with folk remedies, do not forget about other important actions and rules.

Parents should ensure that the following recommendations are followed:

Ensure that the child maintains bed rest.
Ensure can breathe freely . To do this, it is necessary to free the nasal passages with the help of flagella.
Avoid bathing your child during the period of illness. The child can be wiped with damp, warm wipes.
The child's head should be warm, so you should wear a light hat or tie a scarf.
Keep the temperature in the room where the baby is located – no higher than 20 °C. Humidity should be between 60-70%. This will prevent excessive drying of the mucous membranes.

If complications arise, the doctor may prescribe surgical intervention for the child in the form of a puncture of the eardrum.

If your child has not escaped such trouble, then there is no need to despair and lose composure. Otitis media is perfectly treatable if you follow all the rules and prescriptions.

You need to understand the child’s capriciousness during this period, be patient and focus on effective treatment.

Otitis is a common inflammatory disease of the ear. Children under three years of age suffer most often. Sometimes it occurs after an untreated runny nose, sometimes on its own, without any apparent reason.

Content:

Reasons for the development of the disease

The inflammatory process in the ear canal often acts as a complication of diseases of the upper respiratory tract, which are caused by viral, bacterial or fungal agents. In a child, symptoms of otitis media often appear in infancy. This is due to the fact that the baby’s immune system is not yet fully formed. In addition to all this, according to the anatomical structure, the auditory tube in infants is much shorter than in adults, and is directly connected to the nasal cavity.

If otitis media occurs in a child, treatment at home begins with identifying the cause.

anatomical features of the structure of the middle ear in a newborn;
diseases of the respiratory tract and nose in the form of bronchitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, rhinitis of bacterial origin;
viral diseases such as influenza infection, colds, adenovirus;
improper ear care;
ear injury;
hereditary predisposition.

The causes of ear inflammation in babies under one year of age are:

hypothermia;
overheating;
incorrect posture during feeding;
persistent runny nose.

You can begin treating otitis media at home only after the child has been examined by a doctor. He must determine the type of inflammatory process and the type of pathogen. To do this, rhinoscopy and analysis of contents from the nose or pharynx are performed.

How can you cure illness in children at home? First of all, drug therapy is carried out. It is mandatory to prescribe drops that relieve pain and stop the inflammatory process. In more complex cases, antibiotics are prescribed.

Traditional methods will come to the aid of a child with otitis media. You just need to be careful with them. If a purulent form is observed, then it is strictly forbidden to engage in warming.

When can otitis media be treated at home?

Like any disease, otitis media has several degrees of severity and occurs differently in different children. To understand whether it is possible to treat otitis media at home, without the help of a doctor, answer a few questions:

What is the child's temperature? If there is no strong increase (more than 38.5°), you do not need to go to the hospital.
General condition of the baby. Treatment at home for children who do not tolerate the disease well is unacceptable, because sometimes otitis media causes severe pain that cannot be relieved by analgesics.
What age? The smaller the child, the more he needs to be examined by a specialist.

To determine the presence of otitis in a child under one year old, lightly press the tragus near the ear canal. If the action caused crying, then the child has an ear infection. But only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis using an ear mirror!

The main rules for the treatment of otitis media

If otitis media is mild, there are no indications for hospitalization of the child, you can safely treat him at home. There are some mandatory rules for this:

Regardless of a person’s age, treatment of otitis should be accompanied by bed rest. If a child is sick, try to ensure that he spends as much time as possible in bed and rests.
Use dry heat. This will help the child recover faster and ease the course of the disease.

Important: at elevated temperatures, with purulent otitis media, do not use heat or compresses!

give preference to treatment with natural, folk remedies. Herbal infusions are good;
Start treatment for otitis media after rhinitis has been treated.

Treatment of otitis media should follow the standard regimen:

We provide peace.
We take the temperature (above 38.5°)
Painkillers - analgesics.
Warming agents, compresses.
Antiseptics – to fight microorganisms.
Antibiotics as prescribed by a doctor.

Treatment

There are a great many ways to cure otitis media at home in children. Let's look at the most effective and affordable of them.

The influence of compresses on the development of the disease

At the very beginning of the disease, warm compresses are quite effective. They are often used as an emergency aid even before seeing a doctor. Their action is aimed at relieving the most unpleasant symptom – pain. It stops because, due to a gradual increase in temperature, the infection dies, also softens, and sulfur flows out.

There are several types of compresses. The simplest of them involves using a heating pad. It is enough to lie the child’s sore ear on a heating pad. The heating pad should be warm, but not hot. It is enough to lie there for ten to fifteen minutes.

This type of treatment can be carried out at home three to four times a day. Also, a compress based on vodka is quite famous. In order to make it, you will need gauze and vodka. The gauze needs to be folded in several layers and a hole made in the middle corresponding to the size of the ear.

You should wet the gauze with vodka and apply it to the baby’s sore ear so that the gauze is located around it. You need to keep it in this position for four hours.

Oil compresses are indispensable for those children whose skin is highly sensitive.

The procedure for using them is identical to alcohol ones, only the gauze is moistened not with vodka, but with selected oils. Most often, lavender, lemon wormwood, camphor and vegetable oils are used for this purpose.

A compress can also be made from a bag filled with hot sand or salt. When choosing this method of treatment, you should pay attention to the degree of progression of the disease. If it is purulent (this can be determined by pus oozing from the ear canal), then warming procedures are prohibited. Their use will only lead to a worsening of the condition.

Turunda

Turundas are the most effective method, which is also easy to create. For this you will need pieces of gauze or bandage. They need to be twisted into a spiral and moistened in a solution that helps in the fight against the disease. Such solutions include: calendula, boric alcohol, nut oil.

Afterwards, you need to insert the soaked pieces directly into the ear as far as possible. It is also recommended to further push them deeper using pieces of cotton wool. As a result of contact of the turunda with the inflamed area, beneficial substances move to these areas.

Features of using ear drops

The use of ear drops can also effectively help in the fight against otitis media. However, you should know that putting them directly into a child’s sore ear is not the best option. This can lead to hearing loss because droplets can enter the middle ear, which contains the auditory nerve.

Therefore, doctors recommend applying drops to small pieces of gauze or bandage, which should then be inserted into the sore ear. The effectiveness of the method does not at all depend on the method of applying drops. However, the risk of hearing loss is reduced by using gauze or a bandage.

The choice of drops should not be made by you yourself. Drops must be prescribed by a doctor. After appointment, you should take care of the method of storing them.

Regardless of where they are located, they should be applied to the sore ear warm, at room temperature. Drops that are too hot will serve as a catalyst for an exacerbation.

Pay attention to contraindications and composition of the drops. This will help reduce the possibility of allergies to them. In the case, for example, the baby is individually intolerant to a certain substance contained in the drops.

Use the drops in strict accordance with the instructions and explanation of the doctor.

Flowers and plants in the fight against otitis media

Kalanchoe and aloe will help fight inflammation caused by otitis media. To do this, the leaves must be thoroughly washed, wrapped in a bandage, and carefully inserted into the sore ear. The time during which such a procedure must be carried out is not limited.

Geranium leaves will help against inflammatory processes in the affected ear. They can also help in relieving pain. If the inflammation is purulent, an infusion of bay leaves can help. To prepare it, you need to take several dried herb leaves, chop them, and pour boiling water over them.

The infusion lasts for half an hour, after which you need to wait until the infusion reaches room temperature and can be used. The application is quite simple, and somewhat standard. You need to moisten a bandage or gauze with this infusion and place it in the ear. The course of treatment will take five to eight days.

Melissa leaves infused with alcohol are indispensable for complications. It is necessary to drip 4-5 drops into the ear in the evening and in the morning. Remember, before you start treating otitis media in children at home, you must first consult a doctor.

Quick Treatment Tips

In a situation where for some reason you cannot make tinctures, do not want to use medications, and cannot use compresses, quick ways to relieve symptoms can help.

For example, you can ease the passage of the disease if you eat a quarter of a lemon, along with the peel. By mixing beets and honey you can make an effective compress.

If you have a shawl or scarf made from the natural hair of any animal, they can be used in the treatment process. Simply tie the item you are using around your head. This will greatly relieve the pain symptom. The most commonly used wool is sheep, fox, and bear wool. The most effective was the dog one.

Sugar in the fight against otitis media

Sugar smoke can help in the fight against otitis media. This method of treatment is quite unusual. What to do to implement it? You will need a regular iron lid for jars that are used for canning. For the procedure you only need a lid, an elastic band is not needed.

Pour a tablespoon of sugar onto this lid and place it on the switched-on stove burner. The sugar will first melt, then begin to boil, then turn black and smoke will come from it. It is this smoke that is needed for treatment.

You need to make sure that this smoke gets into the child’s ear. The desired procedure time is five minutes. The course of treatment will generally take three to four days.

Otitis is a rather dangerous disease; it is important to identify it in time by its symptoms and begin proper, comprehensive treatment, which will not result in any complications. Remember that the main danger of this disease lies in the complications that arise. Therefore, it is extremely important to prevent them.

Traditional medicine in the treatment of otitis media

Essential oils of lavender, eucalyptus

To treat in this way, you need to drop two drops of each oil into a bowl of boiled water. After this, cover your head with a towel and lean over the steam. It is important that as much steam as possible enters the ear. Inhaling fumes will also be a good idea.

Garlic

Works great against germs. One of the good methods for treating otitis media is applying boiled, peeled garlic to the ear canal. You can leave it overnight, after covering it with gauze or a bandage and securing it with a band-aid.

White vinegar mixed with water in equal proportions

It relieves itching well and reduces pain. To achieve the desired effect, a couple of drops dripped into the ear is enough. It is important to apply the drops to both ears, since otitis media is often bilateral.

Mullein drops

cook a decoction of mullein flowers;
mix in equal proportions with olive oil;
leave to brew overnight.

The next morning you can instill a few drops.

Advice! Dry mint leaves infused with vodka are instilled into the sore ear every 4-5 hours.

Raspberry root decoction

Will help with purulent otitis media. To do this, pour boiling water over three tablespoons of crushed roots and let it brew. Drink every day, depending on the age of the child (100-600ml), for one month.

Bay leaf

One of the best remedies against otitis media with purulent discharge is a tincture of bay leaf. To do this, pour boiling water over the crushed leaves and leave until the water turns yellow. Moisten a cotton pad and place it in your ear. Change every hour. As you recover, gradually reduce the number of such compresses.

Important! Onion juice dripped into a sore ear is an excellent remedy that helps quickly.

Baked onion compress

There are no restrictions on the age of the patient. To implement this, you need to put warm baked onion in a cloth and apply it to your ear until it cools.

Aloe juice

Place one drop into each ear canal. Repeat the procedure three times a day until recovery.

Warming up the sore ear

Potatoes boiled in their jackets work great as dry heat. You can change it often. Apply only through fabric.
Heated salt in a fabric bag is another option for a dry heat compress.
Sollux - warms well and helps with non-purulent forms of the disease.

Treatment of otitis with folk remedies can often be the only method of treatment, but in more severe cases, complicated by pain and fever, it is necessary to use medications offered by traditional medicine.

Photo gallery: ingredients for herbal recipes

Red rose petal tea helps restore hearing function

Basil juice should be instilled into the affected ear three times a day.

A decoction of black elderberry is used for rinsing the ear with purulent otitis media.

You can also drop calendula tincture into your ear.

A steamed mixture of chamomile is applied briefly to the sore ear.

Cloves will help reduce tinnitus due to otitis media

Important! If you are instilling something into an inflamed ear, remember that the product must not be cold, it must be warm.

Drug treatment of otitis media

The first drug prescribed by a doctor for ear inflammation is analgesics. The main goal is pain relief. For these purposes you can use: Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Aleve.

Important! Do not use aspirin to relieve pain in a child! Scientists have proven its harmful effects and ability to cause a dangerous disease - Reye.

Be sure to take care of pain relief at night. Read the instructions carefully and give the tablets no more than the prescribed dose.

As recommended by your doctor, use special ear drops with an antiseptic effect. They will locally help the body fight harmful bacteria, speeding up recovery.

If your child has a high temperature, bring it down until the doctor arrives. Any means indicated for children are suitable for this: Nurofen, Panadol for children, etc. By the way, they not only reduce the temperature, but also relieve pain. In case of purulent otitis, consultation with a specialist is mandatory, especially if the child’s age does not exceed two years.

Only a doctor can prescribe antibiotics for treatment, based on the culture results from the tank laboratory. Why is sowing necessary? To correctly determine the type of bacteria that has settled in your baby’s ear and select the antibiotic to which it is most sensitive. Although many antibacterial drugs are now being produced that have a wide spectrum of action (coping with many strains of microbes), it is better to wait for the results of the culture. This does not apply to cases where help is needed immediately. Antibiotic treatment is prescribed for severe forms of otitis media, as well as for young children. If you decide to treat your baby yourself, do it without antibiotics, as the wrong medicine can be dangerous!

A rule that should never be ignored: if the baby’s condition does not improve within two or three days, contact a specialist.

Remember, even if you decide to treat your child at home, a preliminary consultation with an ENT doctor is essential. After all, only he can correctly assess the condition, degree and form of the disease, distinguish catarrhal otitis from serous, purulent or exudative, and prescribe the most appropriate treatment.

Prevention measures

To prevent your baby from getting otitis media in the future, learn and follow simple rules:

Always pay attention and promptly treat diseases of other ENT organs (tonsillitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis). This is the most important rule, failure to follow and ignorance of which leads to ear inflammation in most cases;
hygiene is the key to health! This also applies to the ears. Clean the ear canals promptly and thoroughly;
Try not to let water get into your baby's ear. Otherwise, try to get it out.

Herbs that provide good prevention of otitis are string, eucalyptus, licorice root and calendula. It is recommended to drink the tincture of these herbs in boiling water in a dosage of 1 glass per adult (for children over two years old - 2-3 tablespoons). The course of treatment is four weeks.

Symptoms of the disease

People of any age can develop ear inflammation, but children are more likely to suffer from it. Statistics show that 80% of children under the age of 3 develop this disease at least once a year. According to the criterion of localization of the pathological process, otitis is divided into external, middle and internal (labyrinthitis).

In the first case, inflammation affects the outer part of the ear canal. This type of disease occurs rarely. It is caused by a fungal infection or microorganisms that promote the formation of boils. Manifested by the following symptoms:

itching;
peeling;
formation of a boil;
redness and swelling of the ear canal;
sharp throbbing pain.

A boil can close the ear canal, causing hearing loss. Its maturation is accompanied by acute pain, intensifying at night. Painful symptoms disappear when the boil matures and breaks through.

Otitis media is characterized by an inflammatory process affecting the middle ear cavity and the accumulation of fluid in it. As inflammation develops, pressure on the eardrum increases, causing it to burst. Then tissue fluid with pus begins to leak from the ear. The course of the disease in acute form can be divided into 5 stages:

Feeling of heaviness and stuffiness in the ear.
The development of inflammation of the mucous membrane, accompanied by increasing ear congestion, severe pain, and fever.
Purulent inflammation with intense jerking pain, hearing loss, increased body temperature above 38 °C.
Perforation of the eardrum, leakage of purulent contents from the ear, subsidence of pain. Hearing impairment persists, there is a sensation of noise in the ear.
Scarring of the damaged eardrum, gradual restoration of hearing.

From an acute form, otitis media can become chronic. With a chronic disease, a non-healing hole forms in the eardrum, through which purulent infiltrate periodically flows out. This occurs due to the wave-like course of inflammation. With this form of the disease, hearing loss is always observed.

Internal otitis or labyrinthitis is extremely rare. When purulent, deafness may develop. The inner ear is responsible for coordinating movements; it contains sound receptors. Inflammation of the organ is manifested by impaired coordination of movements and balance, dizziness.