Content

• Steps
• Advice

Ear infections are common in both adults and children. There are two distinct types of ear infections that affect different ear locations and many different causes. Although ear infections can be miserable, they can be prevented in a number of ways.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Pay attention to the underlying causes of ear infections

1. 

   Find out about different types of ear infections. There are 2 different types of ear infections. Acute otitis media is an infection that occurs in the middle ear canal behind the eardrum. Ear infections are more common in children. There is also an ear infection, or Swimmer's Ear, which is an infection that occurs in the outer ear canal caused by bacteria, a variety of microorganisms or fungi. External ear infections are a common disease among swimmers and diabetics.

2. 

   
   
   Pneumococcal conjugate vaccination. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) helps fight pneumococcal bacteria. Pneumococci such as Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis are one of the main causes of ear infections. This vaccine can be given to both adults and children.
   • The pneumococcal vaccine schedule is 4 doses at 2, 4, 6 and 12-15 months of age. Infants 6 to 11 months of age who just started vaccination will receive 3 doses.
   • Children 12 to 13 months of age just starting a vaccination need only 2 doses. Children over 2 years old only need 1 dose.

3. 

   
   
   Get a flu shot. A yearly flu shot is also an important way to prevent ear infections. Flu is one of the most common causes of ear infections. Vaccination helps prevent the flu, which in turn reduces the risk of ear infections. Streptococcus pneumonia flu bacteria can be completely prevented with a single injection. However, you should also get a new flu vaccine each flu season as the illness tends to change throughout the year.
   • Flu vaccine can be given to both adults and children over 6 months of age.

4. 

   
   
   Treatment of the flu. You can also prevent ear infections by treating the flu before it infects your ears. When you have the flu, you should start treatment right away. Take Tamiflu within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms to treat the flu more effectively. Tamiflu, also known as Oseltamivir, is an antiviral drug that works against the genetic material of influenza viruses. Medications help prevent viral replication and reduce severity and shorten the time when flu symptoms appear.
   • Tamiflu is a commercially available prescription, so you should see your doctor for a prescription.
   • Watch for common flu symptoms like high fever, severe muscle aches, stuffy nose, runny nose, cough, and loss of appetite.

5. 

   Take care of your body when you have a cold. Just like the flu, you should treat a cold right away to prevent ear infections. Treating a cold early can help reduce the severity and duration of cold symptoms. There are different ways to help treat a cold and each of them will help you prevent ear infections. Take zinc immediately after the first cold symptoms appear. According to research, taking zinc within 24 hours of manifesting the first cold symptoms shortened the duration of illness.
   • You can buy zinc in the form of lozenges, tablets, mouth sprays or over-the-counter supplements. Take 75-150 mg of zinc daily to 42% shorten the time of a cold. You should be careful because taking zinc can cause stomach upset.
   • You can also take 1000-2000 mg of vitamin C or 175-300 mg of chamomile daily to boost immune function.Vitamin C is found in fruits, vegetables, fruit juices and functional foods. In addition, you can take chamomile in the form of supplements or solutions.
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Method 2 of 2: Lifestyle changes

1. 

   Wash your hands before touching your ears. Hand washing is a basic hygiene practice. Touching your ears with dirty hands creates a chance for bacteria to enter the ear. Therefore, you should wash your hands before touching your ears and after coming into contact with germs that cause illness. Wash your hands after using the toilet, when using public transport and when you shake hands with strangers.
   • You should also wash your hands after touching dirty objects such as dirty appliances, dirty dishes, unwashed linens; before and after handling raw food as well as before and after eating.

2. 

   Clean your earlobes. Wipe off the earlobes to remove debris that could cause infection. Wipe the earlobes from the inside out so bacteria from the outside can't get into the deep inside of the ear.
   • Absolutely avoid cleaning the inside of the ear as you can push dirt and bacteria deep into the ear, leading to congestion and infection.

3. 

   Cover your ears. Exposing the ear to harmful bacteria and viruses, such as swimming and diving in contaminated water, allows ear infections to develop. For surfers or swimmers, persistent ear moisture creates the risk of ear infections. Some of the surf and swimming spots are close to the wastewater area, thus containing a lot of bacteria. To prevent dirty water from getting into your ears, use ear cups, swimming caps or earplugs that can be used underwater.
   • You can use a little alcohol to dry your ears after swimming or surfing. In addition, you should observe and avoid swimming or surfing in polluted areas.
   • Ear infections can also occur if the ear is exposed to polluted air.

4. 

   Limit the use of pacifiers for babies over 6 months old. According to some pediatricians, giving a baby pacifier or bottle feeding can lead to a baby's risk of ear infection. Lying on a bottle can create negative pressure and cause bacteria living in the mouth like streptococci to be pulled into the Eustachian tube through pressure.
   • Dirty nipples can also lead to ear infections.

5. 

   Feed the child properly. If your baby is bottle-feeding, be careful not to let water overflow. Make sure that milk or juice doesn't leak from the nipple and gets into the baby's ear. This will create a moist environment for the ears similar to the one that causes ear infections (swimmer's ear).
   • Also, avoid letting your baby sleep with the bottle as water can get into the ears this way too.
   • Breastfeeding for at least 3 months has been shown to reduce the risk of ear infections during the first year.
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Advice

• If you have an ear infection, it's best to see your doctor right away for the right treatment and medication.
• Tobacco smoke inhalation also increases your risk of ear infections. Limit your exposure to tobacco smoke.