Help Ear Infections @Home

⚡️👂Ear infections👂⚡️

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Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common type of ear infection.

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This occurs when the Eustachian tube, canal connecting ear to throat that’s meant for drainage, gets clogged with mucus and fluid 👉🏼leading to infection and swelling⚡️

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Kids have smaller, more horizontal Eustachian tubes, making it harder to drain than adults which are more vertical. There is also a muscle that lies on top of the Eustachian tubes and when the muscle is tight or spasmed it restricts drainage further.

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🎥Highlights ways you can help increase drainage at home

📍Start with gentle circles around ears and neck to help LOs relax

1️⃣ Stroke Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle

📍Find big bump behind ear at the base of head {these bumps are called mastoid processes there are✌🏼, one on either side}

📍Use this as the starting spot 📍Lightly stroke from mastoid process behind ear to collarbone

2️⃣ Massage eyebrows 👉🏼 temples

📍Start with fingers in middle of forehead between the eyebrows 📍Rub outwards, following the eyebrows and ending at the temples 📍At the temples make small circles

3️⃣Massage bridge of nose 👉🏼 cheeks

📍Start between eyebrows at top of nose 📍Stroke down sides of nose 📍At the bottom of the nose, rub outwards towards the ears 📍Have tissue ready😁

4️⃣Make small circles/rub under jawline

📍Follow the jaw up to ear, near the mastoid process 📍Do for both sides

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⭐️Bonus make peace sign ✌🏼, straddle ear with✌🏼 & wiggle it up and down⭐️