1 year, 11 months ago
via health-qna.com
Is it true that if a child has not had an ear infection by the time that they reach two years of age, they they will never have one?
I have always heard that if a child reaches 2 years old without ever having an ear infection, that they will never get an ear infection. People in my family have said this to me when my son was young, and I have heard it said by many other people when they are talking to new mothers or parents of sick kids. However, I can't for the life of me think of ever hearing this from a doctor. Is this true? Or is it more like an old wives' tail?
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M$1 Answer
This question really piqued my interest. In fact, I became so curious that I actually asked my daughter's pediatrician this. According to Dr. Tarek El-Masri at the Leitchfield Pediatric Clinic in Kentucky this is an old wives’ tale.
From birth to the end of our days as elderly adults we can develop an ear infection or earache. And so, hypothetically, if you are 72 years old and have never had an earache, you can still develop one.
It is true; however, that many children who have issues with their ears tend to have earaches very early on and continue to do so until the problem is resolved. Those who have healthy ears may still develop infections or earaches, but are much less likely to.
Many children who suffer from earaches do so because of environmental factors, such as second hand smoke. I had this very problem when I was a child and had inner ear infections so frequently that I was an inch away from having tubes placed into my ears. Luckily, that didn't occur and now at the age of 31 I've not had an earache in many years.
Old wives tales are a bit ironic and off the wall sometimes. Here's one for you, to stop an earache, blow cigarette smoke into the person's ear. Obviously, that does not work and in fact, worsens the problem. I say this not so anyone actually does this -- PLEASE DO NOT BLOW CIGARETTE SMOKE INTO ANYONE'S EAR TO RELIEVE EARACHE PAIN. DO NOT SMOKE AROUND OTHERS, IT CAUSES EAR INFECTIONS AND MANY OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS SUCH AS ASTHMA AND RUNNY NOSES -- I am only pointing out this other old wives’ tale to point out how odd some actually were.
Sometimes wisdom does come with old wives tales though! So don't pass them all by as being silly, just make sure that you research it fully and get a doctor's opinion before testing them on someone.
From birth to the end of our days as elderly adults we can develop an ear infection or earache. And so, hypothetically, if you are 72 years old and have never had an earache, you can still develop one.
It is true; however, that many children who have issues with their ears tend to have earaches very early on and continue to do so until the problem is resolved. Those who have healthy ears may still develop infections or earaches, but are much less likely to.
Many children who suffer from earaches do so because of environmental factors, such as second hand smoke. I had this very problem when I was a child and had inner ear infections so frequently that I was an inch away from having tubes placed into my ears. Luckily, that didn't occur and now at the age of 31 I've not had an earache in many years.
Old wives tales are a bit ironic and off the wall sometimes. Here's one for you, to stop an earache, blow cigarette smoke into the person's ear. Obviously, that does not work and in fact, worsens the problem. I say this not so anyone actually does this -- PLEASE DO NOT BLOW CIGARETTE SMOKE INTO ANYONE'S EAR TO RELIEVE EARACHE PAIN. DO NOT SMOKE AROUND OTHERS, IT CAUSES EAR INFECTIONS AND MANY OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS SUCH AS ASTHMA AND RUNNY NOSES -- I am only pointing out this other old wives’ tale to point out how odd some actually were.
Sometimes wisdom does come with old wives tales though! So don't pass them all by as being silly, just make sure that you research it fully and get a doctor's opinion before testing them on someone.
images:
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
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