Jokes

1) Why do some people get all the breaks?
Click for answer

2) What did the dentist like about the army?
Click for answer

Be sure to visit this ThinkQuest site to learn the physics of sound and how the human ear perceives it. Be sure to visit the Interactive Sound Lab at The Soundry.

Joke

Bob: I keep seeing spots before my eyes.
Mark: Have you seen a doctor?
Bob: No just spots.

Did you know that most kids have at least one ear infection before they’re two years old? Most ear infections consist of an earache and maybe a fever.

germs are microscopic What is an infection?

An infection occurs when germs attack your body, if they get trapped in your middle ear (a pocket of air about the size of a grape behind your eardrum) it fills with pus. This pus causes pressure, making your ear hurt.

How can you get an ear infection? A map of the ear

Between your middle ear and throat is the auditory tube A.K.A. the Eustachian tube. Sometimes your auditory tube gets blocked, then germs get trapped inside and grow. (This also stops pressure from being released.) Ear infections hurt, but are not contagious. Babies with ear infections may cry more than usual, tug at their ears, and not eat or drink

What will my doctor do?

Your doctor will look in your ears with an otoscope. With the otoscope, the doctor can see your eardrum. The eardrum is a thin boundary between your outer and middle ear. If you have an ear infection, your eardrum will turn red and bulge. If the doctor blows in your ear, it won’t vibrate like it should. The doctor may do an tympanogram. With this test your doctor can be almost positive whether you have an ear infection or not. The doctor may give you an antibiotic to take for 5-10 days. Most of the time this medicine will cure an infection. You should feel better in a day or two, but take the antibiotic the full time the doctor recommends.

Ear Infection Prevention

Most ear infections are caused by colds, so of possible stay away from people with colds, wash your hand often, and try not to touch your eyes or nose. Also, cigarette smoke can keep your auditory tubes from working so stay away from smoky places.

Credits

Web Sites

The Nemours Foundation. "KidsHealth for Kids" 1995-2004. <http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/> (January-February, 2004).

Images

Images of microscope, ear, and otoscope from "Microsoft Office Online" <http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?cag=1> Images free for non-profit and personal use. (October-February, 2003-2004).

Book

Bernstein, Joanne E. and Paul Cohen. Dizzy Doctor Riddles. Niles, Illinois: Albert Whitman & Company. 1989.

Glossary

Auditory tube…(aw-dih-tor-ee) this keeps out painful pressure by regulating airflow. Return

Eustachian tube…(you-stay-she-un) see auditory tube. Return

Joke Answers

1) They're clumsy Return

2) All the drilling Return