Reflection on Achievement of Outcomes Concept Map

Running head: INFECTIOUS DISEASES ASSIGNMENT 1

INFECTIOUS DISEASES ASSIGNMENT 3

Infectious Disease: Childhood Ear Infections

Name

Institutional Affiliation

Childhood Ear Infections

Introduction

Ear infections, also known as otitis media (OM), are common in younger children. In children, ear infections are a major health issue that may result in delayed language development and hearing impairment if left untreated. Ear infections are often caused by bacteria. They occur when the middle ear is inflamed, and fluid builds up behind the ear. Children are more prone to getting ear infections than adults. 5 out of 6 children under the age of three will get infections (Mukara & Lilford, 2017). Acute otitis media is the most common ear infection, and it causes earache, and a child might also develop a fever.

Most children will develop ear infections before they have learned how to talk, and a parent might find it difficult because the child cannot speak. There are some signs that parents can look out for in case they think their child has an ear infection. They include a child pulling or tugging the ears, trouble responding to quiet sounds and hearing, a fever, clumsiness or trouble with balance, as well as fussiness and crying.

In most cases, an ear infection will be caused by bacteria and will develop after a child has a cold, a sore throat, or other upper respiratory infection. If an infection is caused by bacteria, these bacteria can spread to the middle ear, and if the infection is viral, such as a cold, bacteria may move to the middle ear as a secondary infection as it is drawn to the microbe-friendly environment. Due to this infection, fluid builds up behind the eardrum.

Other parts near the ear, such as the Eustachian tube, may be infected. This is the tube that connects the middle ear to the upper part of the throat. Its functions include draining fluid, supplying fresh air to the middle ear, and keeping pressure steady between the ear and nose.

Children are more prone to ear infections than adults. There are several reasons for these; the Eustachian tubes in children are smaller and more in level, which makes it difficult to drain fluid out of the ear. When children develop colds, the Eustachian tubes might be swollen and blocked with mucus, and as a result, fluid might not drain. Secondly, the immune system of children is not as effective as that of adults because it is still developing, which makes it difficult for children to fight infections.

A pneumatic otoscope will be used by a doctor to diagnose ear infections. The doctor will blow a puff of air into the ear canal. If the child does not have an infection, the eardrum will move back and forth. But with an infection, the eardrum will not move because it will have fluid behind it. The common treatment for childhood ear infections is antibiotics such as amoxicillin. This drug should be administered for 7 to 10 days as directed by a doctor. Pain killers may also be recommended, such as acetaminophen, eardrops, and ibuprofen to help with the pain and fever.

The prevalence of ear infections in children is highest in Australian Aboriginals. Nevertheless ear infections in children can be prevented. The best way of doing this and reducing the risk factors associated with them is by vaccinating a child against the flu. Parents should ensure that their children receive the influence of the flu vaccine every year.

Determinants of Health

There are a few determinants of health that contribute to the development of childhood ear infections. They include seasonal factors, allergies or asthma, poor hygiene, overcrowding, frequent upper respiratory tract infections, exposure to passive smoking, inadequate housing conditions, frequent daycare attendance, as well as socioeconomic status. It is noted that children who also breastfeed are less likely to experience ear infections (Karunanayake et al., 2016).

The biological determinant of age contributes to the development of ear infections in children. Children who are between the ages of six months to two years are more likely to get ear infections because their immune system is still developing and also the size and shape of their Eustachian tube. Also, children who are cared for in group settings such as daycares are susceptible to getting colds which may lead to ear infections as compared to children who stay at home.

Another determinant is bottle-fed babies and breastfed babies. Children who feed on a bottle and especially when lying down, are prone to getting more ear infections compared to breastfed babies. Also, the prolonged use of a pacifier can lead to ear infections.

During the fall and winter, children are more prone to suffer from ear infections. Children who have seasonal allergies such as hay fever and asthma may be at a greater risk of infection, especially when pollen counts are high.

Epidemiological Triad

The epidemiological triad, which consists of the host, agent as well as environment, is a model which is used to have a better understanding of how infections are spread. In the case of ear infections, they are caused by bacteria and viruses. Most times, an ear infection will develop after a cold or other respiratory infection. Particularly in children who are under the age of three years. The agents that cause the infection are Streptococcus pneumonia as well as non-type able Haemophilus influenza (Chiu & Lin, 2012). Allergies, asthma, and other upper respiratory diseases increase the risk of ear infections, especially when there is an increase in the pollen count.

The host of this infection is mostly children, and it is not transmissible from one child to the other. However, the colds that cause the infections are, and parents should try and decrease the spread of these germs. Some environmental factors come to play in the infection of the disease. They include living in a home with people who smoke, having allergies to environmental changes, having a lower socioeconomic status as well as having a parental history of otitis media.

Role of the NP

           The role of the nurse practitioner includes providing a wide range of health care services. These services include performing comprehensive physical exams, diagnosing and treatment of acute, complex, and chronic health issues, health promotion, and disease prevention by offering immunizations, health education as well as counseling and management of chronic health problems.

           In this case, the nurse practitioner will have a crucial role in ensuring that the rates of childhood ear infections reduce by advocating for influence and flu vaccinations. NRs can also track the effectiveness of treatments by analyzing data and finding trends that will help health care providers in understanding the risk factors associated with ear infections in children.

           They can also educate parents who visit the clinics on various ways of preventing ear infections in their young ones other than vaccinations. They include cleanliness, especially frequent washing of the hands, avoiding taking children to daycare at a young age if possible as well as avoiding the prolonged use of a pacifier. This, along with vaccinations, can ensure that the rate of ear infections in children drops significantly.

References

Chiu, N. C., & Lin, h. Y. (2012). Epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of culture-proven acute otitis media in Taiwanese children. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association.

Karunanayake, C. P., Albritton, W., & Rennie, D. C. (2016). Ear infection and its associated risk factors in First Nations and rural school-aged Canadian children. PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4764758/#:~:text=Other%20risk%20factors%20for%20ear,smoking%20%5B11%2C%2012%5D%3B%20and

Mukara, K. B., & Lilford, R. L. (2017). Prevalence of middle ear infections and associated risk factors in children under 5 years in Gasabo district of Kigali city, Rwanda. PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5733628/