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The Health | january, 2019
junior
Influenza
in children
Ear pain
in children
Influenza is a common
disease but children are
severely impacted
Ear infections are much more common in
children than in adults.
F
our five years ago, not many people
were aware of influenza in Malaysia,
but it has been there all the while.
“This is not a new disease. It has
been there for many years with
epidemics in between. There was a
severe one that happened where millions
of people died out of it. In Malaysia, there was only a
heightened awareness of this disease after the bird flu
outbreak. Two – three years ago, there was influenza A
where drastic measures were taken, and due to this there
was awareness,” revealed Kelana Jaya Medical Centre
Consultant Paediatrician Dr Syed Nazir Ms Kadir.
Influenza is a common disease. People will get
it and recover within three to four days. However, it
severely effects the younger and older ones as they lack
in immune system and are unable to fight the disease
well. This may lead to severe complications.
“In addition to the younger age group, those who
are severely impacted are those who have other disease
such as asthma, heart disease and congenital anomalies.
These are the group of people who are more susceptible
compared to the rest.”
Common age group that are affected are those who
are less than four years old, but influenza can affect
any age group. It all depends on your immune system,
vaccinated or not and whether you are exposed to it.
“If you are already immunised – you are protected,
if you aren’t you may get it, depending on what type
of influenza it is whether a type A, B, C or D. However,
within these four range – what is common is type A
and B.”
“A is more serious than the B. If you have other prob-
lems such as asthma, on top of that you get influenza,
the symptoms would be more severe. This may lead to
lung infection and result in pneumonia, ear infection
and sinusitis.”
Symptoms
Influenza spreads through droplets with flu like symp-
toms. Once you get it, you have a bit of running nose,
bit of cough which will lead into the lung and the lung
gets infected.
“In children, these can be presented in different ways.
Not all children would present with flu, although they
might have influenza. So, this depends on the symptoms
such as high fever, lethargic and body ache. In some
cases, they might even have vomiting and diarrhea.”
“Normally these would spread very fast. Within
two days – the third day they may have viral infection.
Prevention is only through vaccination.”
already immunised... If you are
already immunised – you are protected,
if you aren’t you may get it, depending
on what type of influenza it is whether
a type A, B, C or D. say Dr Syed Nazir
Ms Kadir.
This is however, optional. It is normally given
after six months. For children less than three
years old – they would be given two doses of
injections – the first from six months to one
year while the second dose and after on
a yearly basis. This way you are protected. – The Health
Doctor forbids
using ear buds
on children
Noisy Planet
Ear pain can present in various ways
depending on the child’s age. If it is less than
a year-old child, they wouldn’t know what ear
pain is except to be constantly rubbing the
ear. However, this may be different with older
children.
Kelana Jaya Medical Centre Consultant
Paediatrician Dr Syed Nazir Ms Kadir explained
that those older than a year may show that there is
pain, while the little older ones would be able to tell
you before the pain even gets worse.
According to him, the causes varies according
to the age group.
“It may be an infection or there might be a
foreign body inside the ears which was placed in
by the child while playing or insects.”
“Most of the time, it is an infection that is
causing the pain. This may be due to flu and if it
is a prolonged condition over a week or two, the
viruses or even bacteria can travel from the ear
to the nose to the throat through the Eustachian
tubes which is all connected.”
“So, when it affects the middle ear, it becomes
an infection which then causes puss formation.
As this increases, it pushes the eardrum and
causes severe pain. The child would end up crying
until they rapture and the puss comes out which
relieves the pain.
If it’s an inflammation, the pain will still be there,
but can be treated with antibiotics.
“Ear cleaning is not recommended at all for any
child. It is auto-cleaning, so parents do not have
to worry about cleaning the ears,” says Kelana
Jaya Medical Centre Consultant Paediatrician Dr
Syed Nazir Ms Kadir.
He explained that ear buds can accidently
puncture the tympanic membrane – injuring the
ear which would be permanently damage.
“Whatever wax there is, is a protective
mechanism for our ear which doesn’t need
cleaning. However, if the wax is very hard and
painful, then it should be cleaned with the
assistance of a doctor.”
“By using ear buds, you may push the wax
further into it than pulling it out. If cleaning should
be done, it should only be on the external part of
the ear. What you see, can just be wiped.”