Final answer:
When irrigating an infant or child's ear, pull the auricle downward and backward to accommodate their different ear canal structure, preventing OME and potential infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
When irrigating an infant or child's ear, it is most appropriate to pull the auricle downward and backward to straighten the ear canal. This gentle manipulation accommodates the anatomical differences in young children.
Ear irrigation in infants and children must be approached with caution due to their anatomical differences from adults. Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common condition where fluid accumulates in the middle ear as a result of blockage or dysfunction of the eustachian tubes. In children, the risk of OME is higher because their eustachian tubes are shorter and less angled, and they have more upper respiratory infections. When bottle feeding in the lying down position, infants often develop negative pressure in the eustachian tube, which can pull fluid and bacteria into the middle ear. Proper ear irrigation can help prevent potential infections, but because of their unique ear structure, the action for ear irrigation in children should always be pulling the auricle downward and back, which aligns the ear canal and facilitates the safe passage of irrigation fluid.