When germs get inside your body or the bodies of those you support, they can cause an infection. Sometimes, when people feel sick, it is because they have an infection in some part of their body. By reading this article, you will learn about ear, nose, and throat infections including information on symptoms to look for among the individuals you support, action you can take if you think that someone has one of these infections, and methods for prevention.

What are ear, nose, and throat infections?

Ear, nose, and throat infections are all caused by germs that come from outside of your body.

• Ear infections happen when germs get trapped in the tube that connects your ear to your throat.
• Throat infections are caused by germs that get into your throat and cause the throat and tonsils to get swollen and irritated.
• Nose infections can include both the common cold and sinusitis. These infections are caused by germs getting into your nose or sinuses (your sinuses are air pockets behind your nose, eyes, and cheekbones)

Who is most likely to get ear, nose, and throat infections?

Anyone can have ear, nose, or throat infections. Some people who are at greater risk of getting these kinds of infections include:

• People who spend a lot of time around others who are sick
• Those who smoke cigarettes or spend time around others who smoke
• People who have repeated colds or other respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis

Some individuals with developmental disabilities are more likely to get these infections including:

• Children who have Down syndrome often get more ear infections than others.
• Individuals who live with many other people (such as in group homes) may be more likely to be exposed to others who are sick and catch infections.

As a direct support professional, you can look out for the signs and symptoms of infection among all of the individuals who you support, but especially among those individuals who live in large groups or who spend time around others who may be sick.

How can I tell if the people I support have an ear, nose, or throat infection?

The best way to identify ear, nose, and throat infections among those who you support is to listen to the individual and be observant about changes in his or her behavior. The common symptoms of these infections are listed  below.

• Ear Infections:
  • Earache or trouble hearing
  • Fever
  • Thick, yellow fluid coming from the ears
• Throat Infections (such as strep throat or tonsillitis):
  • Severe sore throat and pain when swallowing
  • Fever
  • Swollen tonsil and lymph nodes
  • Bright red throat with white or yellow spots
• Nose Infections (such as a the common cold or sinusitis):
  • Pain or pressure in the face
  • Stuffy or runny nose (yellow or greenish discharge)
  • Headache or tooth pain
  • Fever
  • Reduced sense of taste or smell

The individuals who you support may be able to tell you about the symptoms they are experiencing, but even if they can’t or won’t, you can observe changes in their behavior that may indicate an infection. For instance:

If a person you support has a(n)…

• Ear Infection, you may notice that the person…:
  • Is pulling on his or her ears or has red ears
  • Is holding, hitting, or banging his or her head
  • Is having trouble hearing
  • Has fluid coming out of his or her ears
  • Feels warm to the touch (has a fever)
• Throat Infection (such as strep throat or tonsillitis), you may notice that the person…:
  • Sounds different than usual (sounds hoarse)
  • Is refusing to eat
  • Feels warm to the touch (has a fever)
• Nose Infection (such as a the common cold or sinusitis), you may notice that the person…:
  • Is rubbing their nose
  • Has fluid coming out of his or her nose
  • Is holding, hitting, or banging his or her head
  • Is tilting or waving his or her head
  • Feels warm to the touch (has a fever)

In some cases it can be challenging to detect a change. The people who you support are relying on you to notice changes in their behavior and their bodies and to ensure that they receive the treatment that they need to get better.

What should I do if I think someone has an ear, nose, or throat infection?

If you think that someone has an ear, nose, or throat infection, the best thing for you to do is to call the person’s doctor. When you call the doctor, be prepared to tell him or her:

• What symptoms the person has complained of (for example, if the individual has told you that his or her throat hurts or that his or her eyes hurt)
• What behavior changes you have noticed (for example, if the individual has been pulling on his or her ears, or has not been able to sleep)
• How long the symptoms or behavior changes have been happening
• If the individual has a fever, how long the fever has lasted, and what temperatures you have recorded
• If the individual has been spending time around others who are sick and what conditions these other people have

As a direct support professional, you spend a lot of time with the people who you support. This puts you in a great position to record their symptoms over time and provide information to health care professionals about the person’s symptoms and behaviors.

What will the doctor do at the appointment and what should I do to prepare?

To prepare for an appointment, you should keep a written record of the symptoms and behavior changes you have noticed. If you have noticed any patterns or trends in the individual’s behavior (such as if the individual seems to be getting worse or if the individual’s fever is always highest in the morning), write these down to share with the doctor as well. By giving the doctor as much information as possible, you are helping him or her to figure out what is wrong and recommend the correct treatment.

Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe medicine to the person who you support. Make sure to let the doctor know all of the other medications the person is taking so that you can help the doctor avoid prescribing a medication that does not mix well with the person’s current medications!

How can I help people with ear, nose, and throat infections to feel better?

The best thing that you can do is to make sure that the individuals you support follow all of their doctor’s instructions!

• If the doctor prescribed a medication, make sure the individual takes the medicine as directed and that the individual takes all of the medication, even if he or she starts to feel better before it is gone
• Help the individual to get plenty of rest
• Ask the doctor about using over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, fever reducers, or decongestants*
• For an ear infection, applying heat to the ear may help to ease the pain; you can use a warm washcloth or a heating pad (but make sure the heating pad does not get too hot or it may cause a burn)
• For a throat infection, drinking plenty of fluids (such as warm herbal tea) may help relieve soreness; using a vaporizer or humidifier in the bedroom may also help the person feel better
• Vaporizers and humidifiers can also be a helpful way to alleviate the symptoms of nose or sinus infections
• If the individual’s symptoms start getting worse, call the doctor again and let him or her know what you have noticed

*Before giving the individuals you support any over-the-counter medications, check with a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to make sure that the new medications are safe to take with any medications the individual is already taking. For people who live in Community Care Facilities, per Title 22 regulations, over-the-counter medications require a doctor’s prescription.

Are there any ways to prevent ear, nose, and throat infections?

The best way to prevent these infections among the people you support is to encourage them to wash their hands frequently with soap and warm water. Another great way to help individuals prevent infections is to encourage them to keep their hands away from their nose, eyes, and mouth – this can help stop dangerous germs from getting into their bodies.

You can also encourage individuals to:

• If they smoke, stop smoking
• Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet
• Get plenty of sleep and rest every day

Finally, you can prevent infections among those who you support by making sure to keep yourself healthy:

• Wash your hands with soap and warm water when moving between the different individuals who you support
• If you are feeling sick, stay home and rest. If you continue your work, you may spread germs among the people who you support and cause these individuals to become ill as well

Are there materials that I can use to teach those I support about these kinds of infections?

There are numerous resources on the DDS SafetyNet about infections. For example, check out:

• Infections
• Preventing Infections

You can ask a health care professional or your local Regional Center if they have materials that you can use to teach people with developmental disabilities about infections.

Where can I go to learn more?

The best way to learn more is by talking to your doctor. You can also check out these resources on the internet:

• WebMD:
  • Ear infections
  • Strep throat
  • Tonsillitis
  • Sinusitis