Where There Is No Doctor 2011 309
HEALTH PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN
NOT DISCUSSED IN OTHER chapters
Earache and Ear Infections
Ear infections are common in small children. The infection
often begins after a few days with a cold or a stuffy nose. The
fever may rise, and the child often cries or rubs the side of his
head. Sometimes pus can be seen in the ear. In small children
an ear infection sometimes causes vomiting or diarrhea. So
when a child has diarrhea and fever be sure to check his ears.
pus
Treatment:
♦ It is important to treat ear infections early. Give an antibiotic like penicillin
(p. 350) or cotrimoxazole (p. 357). In children under 3 years of age, ampicillin
(p. 352) often works better. Give acetaminophen (p. 379) for pain.
♦ Carefully clean pus out of the ear with cotton, but do not put a plug of cotton,
a stick, leaves, or anything else in the ear.
♦ Children with pus coming from an ear should bathe regularly but should not
swim or dive for at least 2 weeks after they are well.
Prevention:
♦ Teach children to wipe but not to blow their noses when they have a cold.
♦ Do not bottle feed babies—or if you do, do not let baby feed lying on his back,
as the milk can go up his nose and lead to an ear infection.
♦ When children’s noses are plugged up, use salt drops and suck the mucus out
of the nose as described on p. 164.
Infection in the ear canal:
To find out whether the canal or tube going into the ear is infected, gently pull the
ear. If this causes pain, the canal is infected. Put drops of water with vinegar in the
ear 3 or 4 times a day. (Mix 1 spoon of vinegar with 1 spoon of boiled water.) If there
is fever or pus, also use an antibiotic.
Sore Throat and Inflamed Tonsils
These problems often begin with the common
cold. The throat may be red and hurt when the child
swallows. The tonsils (two lymph nodes seen as lumps
on each side at the back of the throat) may become
large and painful or drain pus. Fever may reach 40°.
Treatment:
♦ Gargle with warm salt water (1 teaspoon of salt in
a glass of water).
♦ Take acetaminophen for pain.
♦ Be sure the child drinks enough, even if it hurts to
swallow. Try giving tea or watered down fruit juice.
If pain and fever come on suddenly or continue for
more than 3 days, see the following page.