Is your baby fussy, crying, running a low-grade fever? Is your school-age child complaining of earache pain? These signs and more may indicate a middle ear infection. At West Coast Ear, Nose and Throat Head and Neck Surgery in Simi Valley, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Camarillo, our team of seven ENT doctors can help if your child is dealing with an ear infection.

What causes an ear infection?

It's a bacterial infection of the middle ear structure. Often involving fluid behind the ear drum, pain, drainage, and fever, otitis media plagues millions of American children annually, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. An ear infection may impact hearing.

Diagnosing and treating ear infections

At West Coast Ear, Nose and Throat Head and Neck Surgery, your otolaryngologist will inspect your child's ear canal and tympanic membrane (ear drum) with a lighted otoscope. The ear drum often appears bulging and dull because of bacteria-filled fluid behind the ear drum. The ear canal itself may look reddened and feel tender, too.

In addition, the physician will review symptoms and recommend a course of treatment--not only to cure the infection but also to help prevent re-occurrence. Often, young children experience repeat infections because of the horizontal orientations and short lengths of their eustachian tubes, the canals between the middle ear and throat, state experts at the Cleveland Clinic.

A care plan can include:

• Adequate hydration
• A course of antibiotics
• No smoking around the child
• Positioning a bottle-fed baby sitting up to promote drainage

A word on ear tubes...

Some children benefit from ventilation tubes installed in their ear drums to promote aeration and fluid drainage. Tiny and painless, ear tubes help kids who have infection after infection and can be a great alternative to repeat courses of antibiotics. Ask your ENT doctor if they are a good option for your child.

Yes, they can be part of childhood

However, ear infections should be taken seriously. If you suspect your youngster needs help keeping his or her ears infection-free, please contact West Coast Ear, Nose and Throat Head and Neck Surgery for a consultation with one of our caring doctors. We have locations in Simi Valley, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Camarillo. Call (805) 484-5929 for Camarillo, (805) 527-7320 for Simi Valley, (805) 379-9646 for Thousand Oaks, and (805) 983-0395 for Oxnard.

Could your child have an ear infection? An ear infection happens when your child gets infected fluid or pus behind the eardrum. If you think your child has an ear infection, take him or her to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor. West Coast ENT Head and Neck Surgery, with offices in Thousand Oaks, CA, Simi Valley, CA, Oxnard, CA, and Camarillo, CA, offers treatments for ear infections. Read on to learn more!

Ear Infections Overview- Ear infections are common in kids, though they can develop in both children and adults. Ear infections occur when fluid builds up in the middle ear and they are the most common reason parents bring their children to an ENT doctor. Ear infections can cause temporary hearing loss in children, so it's a good idea to take your child to a doctor if you suspect that they may have come down with one.

Causes of Ear Infections- Ear infections are usually caused by bacteria that occurs when fluid builds up in the ear, and they often begin after a child has a sore throat or a cold. Eustachian tubes are smaller in kids than they are in adults, which can make it difficult for fluid to drain out of the ear. Consequently, children are more likely to get ear infections than adults.

Symptoms of an Ear Infection- The most common symptom of an ear infection is an earache. Older children may complain of an earache, but an infant might just pull and tug at the ear and cry more often. A low-grade fever is another one of the hallmarks of an ear infection in children. You may also notice white or yellow fluid draining from your child's ear.

Diagnosis of Ear Infections- An ENT doctor can diagnose an ear infection based on the described symptoms and an exam. The doctor may also use a lighted instrument, called an otoscope, to examine your child's eardrum and check for fluid behind the eardrum.

Treatment of Ear Infections- The doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to be taken over seven to ten days, and/or an over-the-counter pain reliever or eardrops to help with fever and pain. It's important to make sure your child takes the medications exactly as prescribed and for the full amount of time. Stopping the medication too soon could allow the infection to come back.


An ear infection can affect your child's daily activities and make life miserable. Call West Coast ENT Head and Neck Surgery at 805-379-9646 today to schedule an appointment in Thousand Oaks, CA. Call 805-527-7320 to schedule an appointment in Simi Valley, CA. Call 805-983-0395 to schedule an appointment in Oxnard, CA. Call 805-484-5929 to schedule an appointment in Camarillo, CA. We will help your child achieve relief with little expense or trouble.

Ear infections cause 22 million Americans to visit their doctors each year, mostly young children, according to statistics published by The Hearing Review. In fact, it is one of the most common reasons why parents bring their young children to see the doctor. Know the symptoms of an ear infection so that you can have it examined and treated by an ENT doctor at West Coast Ear, Nose and Throat in Simi Valley, Camarillo, Ventura County and Thousand Oaks, CA as soon as possible.

Is It an Ear Infection?
An ear infection is an irritation of the middle ear caused by bad bacteria or fungus. Its formal name is otitis media with effusion or OME. According to the Journal of Infection Diseases, five out of six children have an ear infection before the age of three. This condition is most common in young children because their ears haven't had a chance to fully form and their immune systems may not be strong enough. These are some signs of a possible ear infection:

- Pain and headaches.
- Fever (over 100°F).
- A recent or persistent head cold.
- Unexplained crying in babies and toddlers.
- Pus-like fluid coming out of the ear.
- Trouble hearing at normal volumes.
- Loss of appetite.
- Inability to sleep soundly.

What Causes Ear Infections?
Ear infections are often caused by fluid that gets trapped in the ear after a respiratory ailment, like a cold. They are sometimes caused by exposure to an environment that is full of bacteria, like a public pool. An infection may also develop from a foreign substance or object that’s stuck in the ear. It’s important to note that untreated ear infections could lead to hearing loss, which is why it’s best to play it safe and see your Simi Valley, Camarillo, Ventura County and Thousand Oaks, CA ENT doctor if there are any concerning symptoms.

Treating an Ear Infection
Antibiotic therapy is the common solution for an ear infection that is caused by bacteria. If it is a fungal infection, antifungal medication will likely be prescribed. There are cases where your Simi Valley, Camarillo, Ventura County and Thousand Oaks, CA ENT may choose to let some time pass to see if the infection goes away on its own. If there is something in the ear that is causing the symptoms, it will be safely removed by your doctor.

See an ENT for Treatment
If you believe your child may have an ear infection, seek treatment from an ENT doctor at West Coast Ear, Nose and Throat in Simi Valley, Camarillo, Ventura County and Thousand Oaks, CA. Call (805) 379-9646 today to set a convenient time for a visit.

Do you or your child have a painful ear infection? A very common condition, most people suffer from at least one ear infection at some point, typically during childhood. Thankfully, there are several ear infection treatments you can try. Here are five ear infection treatments the doctors at West Coast Ear, Nose and Throat in Thousand Oaks routinely recommend.

1. Antibiotics

Many parents who bring their child in to their Thousand Oaks doctor for ear infection treatment expect a prescription, and for good reason. A prescription antibiotic is the most popular treatment for ear infections in children. Unfortunately, however, antibiotics don't always work and they aren't always necessary, depending on the cause of the infection and the severity of your child's symptoms. Your child's doctor at West Coast Ear, Nose and Throat can let you know if an antibiotic is a good option for you.

2. Pain Relievers

If you and your child's doctor choose not to use an antibiotic to treat the ear infection, there are still several treatments you can try. If your child's ear infection is very painful, you may want to treat the pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Never give aspirin to children.

3. Rest

Because ear infections can heal on their own over time, sometimes the best treatment for an ear infection that isn't too painful is simply to get plenty of rest. Resting can also help you avoid getting sick, which can lead to or further exacerbate an ear infection.

4. Heat

Another home treatment you may want to try is heat, which can be used to help ease the pain. Use a warm, wet washcloth with a younger child or a heating pad on the lowest setting with an older child.

5. Elevation

Lastly, keeping your child's head elevated can help any fluid or blockage drain from your child's ear, clearing up the ear and the infection along with it. Use a fluffy pillow for an older child or prop your infant's mattress slightly with a rolled up towel.

Ear infections can be quite painful, but thankfully, they don't generally last too long. Use these five ear infection treatments to find relief and be sure to call your doctor at West Coast Ear, Nose and Throat in Thousand Oaks if you have any questions or if the above treatments don't work.

Otitis media is the medical term for middle-ear inflammation. There are 3 types of otitis media: acute otitis media, otitis media with effusion. and chronic suppurative otitis media. Acute otitis media is normally has obvious symptoms associated, especially ear pain. Otitis media with effusion most commonly is not associated with acute symptoms. Lastly, chronic suppurative otitis media is associated with perforation of the ear drum and may or may not have drainage. All 3 of these conditions are associated with hearing loss. Otitis Media is most frequently found in childhood but it can occur at any age. Not all disease in the middle-ear is otitis media, such as cholesteatoma and congenital malformatons of the middle-ear.

Signs and symptoms common in children include:

• Irritability
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Excessive crying
• Ear pain, especially when lying down
• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty hearing or responding to sounds
• Tugging or pulling on ear
• Loss of balance
• Fever of 100 F or higher
• Drainage of fluid from the ear

Call West Coast ENT Head and Neck Surgery Today!