Children are already at heightened risk of ear infections due to their ear anatomy and adding exposure to second-hand smoke enhances this risk. Not only are ear infections painful but they can cause more uncomfortable side effects like dizziness, nausea, loss of balance, and fever.
Does smoking cause ear infections in kids?
Study Shows Higher Risk of Middle Ear Infection for Children in Homes Where Parents Smoke. From the WebMD Archives. Jan. 28, 2011 -- Children who live in homes where parents or others smoke have a higher risk of developing middle ear infections than kids whose houses are smoke-free, a new study shows.
What increases my baby’s risk for ear infections?
Being exposed to secondhand smoke can increase your baby’s risk for ear infections. Babies who are bottle-fed are more likely to experience ear infections than breastfed babies; however, you can minimize the risk by bottle feeding your baby in an upright position, so that milk doesn’t pool in their ear passages.
Is it safe to vape around your kids and babies?
The bottom line: No amount of vaping around your babies and children is considered safe. So it's important to take the proper precautions to avoid exposure to secondhand vaping and get the help or your partner need to quit. From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting.
Is it normal for a baby to tug on their ear?
Many parents will notice their baby tugging on their ear or simply acting fussy and assume that they have an ear infection. However, while ear tugging and fussiness are sometimes signs of ear infections, they can also be the signs of teething, or just general crankiness.
How to protect your kids from vaping?
Plain and simple: if you are a parent that vapes, do not do it near your children. “The best way to protect your children is to never smoke or vape near them,” says Dr. Judy. “Never smoke indoors, in your car, or in places that children spend time.
What is vaping in medical terms?
What is vaping? “Vaping is a term used for the use of electronic cigarettes. These are battery operated devices that entered the US market in 2006,” says Cynthia Ambler, MD, pediatrician at Northwestern Medicine. They also go by a ton of different names, brands and designs.
How do e-cigarettes and cigarettes differ?
Both e-cigarettes and cigarettes contain the drug nicotine, but they differ in how they get the drug to the lungs. “With vaping, the liquid nicotine is heated, aerosolized and inhaled—but with smoking, the tobacco is burned via combustion to form a smoke that is inhaled,” says Dr. Ambler.
What are the chemicals in vape smoke?
And the chemicals found in vape smoke are different from cigarettes. “E-cigarettes commonly contain propylene glycol and glycerol. These substances can decompose to form formaldehyde and acetaldehyde which are known carcinogens,” says Dr. Ambler.
What are the effects of smoking e-cigarettes?
E- cigarettes have also been reported to cause burns, explosive injuries and chemical injuries.
What happens if a child ingests nicotene?
If a child ingests nicotene, it is considered a poisoning.
Does vaping cause nicotine?
Vaping can expose infants and children to nicotine, as well as the other heavy metals, formaldehyde, and chemical byproducts of the heating process.
Does vaping cause ear infections?
I am prone to ear infections and vaping has never caused one. But everyone is different.
Can you get sick from vaping?
At this time of the year, it is common to get sore throats, ear issues, sinus issues, and actually get sick. It likely is a coincidence that you had the ear problem right when you started vaping, but in any event do go get that ear checked out. I also have a tendency to blame everything on the fact that I've started vaping, but every time I have been able to logically rule out vaping as a cause. If only we had been this careful and scrutinizing way back when we tried that first cigarette. Right?
How to prevent ear infections in infants?
Consider breastfeeding: Breast milk contains antibodies that may help reduce the risk of ear infections and a host of other ailments. Whether you feed milk or formula, make sure your child sits up during feedings to prevent fluid from flowing into the middle ear.
How often do children get ear infections?
Unfortunately, some children suffer from recurrent ear infections, sometimes up to five or six a year. Kids who get repeated infections may benefit from a surgical procedure where doctors insert small tubes in the eardrums to improve air flow and prevent fluid buildup.
How to tell if your ear is infected?
The telltale sign of an ear infection is pain in and around the ear. Young children can develop ear infections before they are old enough to talk. That means parents are often left guessing why their child appears to be suffering. When your child can't say "my ear hurts," the following signs suggest an ear infection could be the culprit: 1 Tugging or pulling the ear 2 Crying and irritability 3 Difficulty sleeping 4 Fever, especially in younger children 5 Fluid draining from the ear 6 Loss of balance 7 Difficulty hearing or responding to auditory cues
What is the most common ear infection?
The most common type of ear infection is otitis media, which results when fluid builds up behind the eardrum and parts of the middle ear become infected and swollen.
How much more likely is secondhand smoke to cause ear infections?
Avoid secondhand smoke: Studies show that children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are up to three times more likely to develop ear infections than those who don't have those exposures.
Why can't my child say "my ear hurts"?
When your child can't say "my ear hurts," the following signs suggest an ear infection could be the culprit: Tugging or pulling the ear. Crying and irritability. Difficulty sleeping. Fever, especially in younger children.
What are the symptoms of a swollen ear?
Fluid draining from the ear. Loss of balance. Difficulty hearing or responding to auditory cues. Signs that require immediate attention include high fever, severe pain, or bloody or pus-like discharge from the ears.
Why did the number of outpatient visits for otitis media drop?
But researchers found that the average number of outpatient visits for otitis media in youths 6 and younger dropped 5%, and that hospital discharges fell 10% annually between 1993 and 2006, in large part, apparently, to increased awareness of dangers to kids of secondhand smoke. Another reason, however, may have been a vaccine for pneumonia that was introduced in 2000.
Is there evidence that smoking is linked to ear infections?
The U.S. Surgeon General in 2006 said enough evidence existed to suggest a connection between parents and others smoking and ear infections in children.
Does smoking cigarettes cause toxins?
Smoke from a burning cigarette combined with exhaled smoke from a person who smokes has been shown to increase unhealthy particles in the air, including those of nicotine and other toxins, the researchers write.
Does smoking cause middle ear infection?
Study Shows Higher Risk of Middle Ear Infection for Children in Homes Where Parents Smoke
Does second hand smoke cause otitis media?
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and the Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society in the Republic of Ireland say they found that a reduction in secondhand smoke in American homes was associated with fewer cases of otitis media, or what most people refer to as middle ear infections.
What happens if my child keeps getting ear infections?
To keep a middle ear infection from coming back, it helps to limit some of the factors that might put your child at risk, such as not being around people who smoke and not going to bed with a bottle. In spite of these precautions, some children may continue to have middle ear infections, sometimes as many as five or six a year. Your doctor may want to wait for several months to see if things get better on their own but, if the infections keep coming back and antibiotics aren’t helping, many doctors will recommend a surgical procedure that places a small ventilation tube in the eardrum to improve air flow and prevent fluid backup in the middle ear. The most commonly used tubes stay in place for six to nine months and require follow-up visits until they fall out.
How can I tell if my child has an ear infection?
Most ear infections happen to children before they’ve learned how to talk. If your child isn’t old enough to say “My ear hurts,” here are a few things to look for:
What is an ear infection?
An ear infection is an inflammation of the middle ear, usually caused by bacteria, that occurs when fluid builds up behind the eardrum. Anyone can get an ear infection, but children get them more often than adults. Five out of six children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday. In fact, ear infections are the most common reason parents bring their child to a doctor. The scientific name for an ear infection is otitis media (OM).
What are the symptoms of an ear infection?
There are three main types of ear infections. Each has a different combination of symptoms.
Why are children more likely than adults to get ear infections?
There are several reasons why children are more likely than adults to get ear infections.
How does a doctor diagnose a middle ear infection?
Has your child had a head cold or sore throat recently? Is he having trouble sleeping? Is she pulling at her ears? If an ear infection seems likely, the simplest way for a doctor to tell is to use a lighted instrument, called an otoscope, to look at the eardrum. A red, bulging eardrum indicates an infection.
How is an acute middle ear infection treated?
Your doctor also may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, or eardrops, to help with fever and pain. (Because aspirin is considered a major preventable risk factor for Reye’s syndrome, a child who has a fever or other flu-like symptoms should not be given aspirin unless instructed to by your doctor.)
Why are babies more prone to ear infections?
The reason babies and young children are more prone to ear infections include: Babies’ ear passages are different than adults: they are shorter, narrower, and more horizontal in orientation. Babies are more likely to get colds and other viruses, which make them more prone to ear infections.
What Causes Ear Infections in Babies?
Ear infections, medically known as acute otitis media, are infections of the middle part of the ear. They are caused by either a viral infection ( like the common cold) or a bacterial infection. These infections cause fluid to build up in the middle ear, as well as inflammation. In some cases, the eustachian tubes (the small tubes between the nose and middle ear) show signs of infection as well.
Why does my baby keep tugging on my ear?
Many parents will notice their baby tugging on their ear or simply acting fussy and assume that they have an ear infection. However, while ear tugging and fussiness are sometimes signs of ear infections, they can also be the signs of teething, or just general crankiness.
What happens if a doctor thinks your baby has an ear infection?
If your doctor thinks your baby may have an ear infection, they will certainly examine your baby’s ear canal, but they will also likely look at other possible symptoms. Here’s what will happen during the visit: Your doctor will ask you what viral or infection symptoms your baby has had recently.
What is the name of the infection in the middle of the ear?
Ear infections, medically known as acute otitis media, are infections of the middle part of the ear. They are caused by either a viral infection (like the common cold) or a bacterial infection. These infections cause fluid to build up in the middle ear, as well as inflammation. In some cases, the eustachian tubes (the small tubes between ...
Why do babies pull their ears?
Pulling at the ears from pain. Fever (not all babies have fever with an ear infection, but many will have a fever between 100 degrees F and 104 degrees F) Decreased appetite due to fever, pain, or discomfort while swallowing or suckling. Digestive discomfort. Clumsiness due to ear balance issues.
How to prevent ear infection in newborn?
Reducing your baby’s exposure to secondhand smoke. Practicing good hygiene such as frequent hand washing to reduce the chances of your baby picking up a viral infection that may lead to an ear infection. Keeping up with your baby’s vaccines and getting an annual flu shot.
How is Vaping Associated with Allergies?
The bottom line is there is still a lot of research that needs to be done before definitive conclusions can be reached on how vaping is associated with allergies.
What is Vape Lung?
Vape lung is the term that is being given to a cluster of symptoms that arise from what is believed to be the sustained use of e-cigarettes. Vape lung is not an infection—which means it is likely the result of exposure to the chemicals in vaping products.
Are Sinus Infections Caused by Vaping?
It’s possible that vaping may be a contributing factor to some sinus infections . Since vaping increases allergy sensitivity, and allergies can lead to possible sinus infections, vaping could be one of the factors to consider when determining the source of a sinus infection.
