Supplements to Prevent Ear Infections

An ear infection can occur in your ear at any point in time. Ear infections commonly accompany the common cold. Ear infections are caused by bacteria that grow within the ear when the Eustachian tubes are not working properly. Babies and small children are particularly prone to ear infections because their Eustachian tubes are so tiny and do not work as effectively as an adult's according to the Nemours Foundation.

Symptoms and Causes

• The anatomy of the ear consists of three parts: the outer ear, the inner ear, and the middle ear. Most ear infections occur when bacteria gets into the middle ear. However, a condition known as swimmer's ear can cause the outer ear to become infected also. Typically the symptoms of a middle ear infection are fever and a sensation that a balloon is about to pop inside of your ear. This is due to pus at the site of the infection that the body has accumulated to attempt to combat the infection according to the Nemours Foundation.

Treatments and Supplements

• Treatment for an ear infection typically begins with a trip to the physician. Your doctor will look into your ear and examine it for any signs of infection. These signs include pus in the ear and an inflamed ear drum. An ear drum that is not working properly is most often a sure sign of ear infection. The doctor will also take your temperature to see if you are running a fever. A fever is the body's way of telling you that it is trying to fight off some sort of invading bacteria that is not good for you.

  After initial examination, the doctor will often send you home with little more than a prescription for a pain killer to help make you comfortable. You will be instructed to wait a couple of days and see if your body can heal the infection on its own. In some cases where the body is not combating the infection effectively, antibiotics are administered.

  If you want to try to help the body to get rid of that ear infection on its own without the use of antibiotics, or if you want to try to prevent an ear infection from ever occurring, there are some natural supplements that you can try. Some naturally existing oils and vitamins will reduce the risk of ear infection and prevent them to a degree. These natural supplements include garlic oil drops, elderberry, Echinacea, and good old vitamin C. Each of these supplements is said to have some degree of healing quality and to be able to prevent ear infections in many cases.