During a respiratory infection, a child's middle ear can become filled with fluid. After the infection has passed, the fluid drains out of the middle ear, through a tube that connects it to the nose.
However, in many children, the fluid becomes trapped in the middle ear due to the small size of the tube, making proper drainage difficult.
This leads to a condition known as serous otitus media, more commonly known as "fluid in the middle ear."
It's the most common cause of hearing loss in children, and may affect up to 90% of all children before they reach school age.
Symptoms include:
- Muffled hearing
- Mild, intermittent ear pain
- Delayed gross motor skills
- Balance problems
- Vertigo
Once you have consulted with your child's doctor and received a diagnosis of fluid in the middle ear, your child may be referred to a surgeon.
Tiny tubes can be placed in the ears that help them drain. In most cases, however, children outgrow the condition as their inner ear tubes become larger with age. If you'd like to avoid surgery, there are some things you can do at home to relieve symptoms of fluid in the middle ear.Natural Remedies
#1 – Dietary Changes
You can begin by reducing the amount of dairy your child consumes. Dairy causes the soft tissue in the sinuses and inner ear to become swollen. In an adult, this doesn't impact fluid drainage. But in a child with smaller ear tubes and an existing problem with fluid in the middle ear, it can increase the problem. Supplement your child's diet with foods that contain the amino acid cysteine, which helps clear mucus and sinus fluid. Such foods include:- Chicken
- Garlic
- Broccoli