Earache in children

What is earache?

Earache can be a sharp, dull or burning pain in one or both ears. This pain can last for a short or long time. Earache is common in children.

Causes of earache

The Eustachian tubes connect the ears to back of the mouth, near the throat. Short-term changes in pressure in one or both Eustachian tubes are one of the most common causes of earache. The changes in pressure occur when a child has an upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold or a throat, ear or sinus infection.

Ear infections

An ear infection occurs when there is swelling or build-up of fluids in the middle ear, most often from a viral or bacterial infection. It is also called otitis media. The middle ear is the space between the eardrum and inner ear.

Otitis media

A child with an ear infection displays some of the following common signs and symptoms:

• ear pain
• fever
• fussiness
• irritability
• pulling or rubbing the ear
• increased crying
• trouble sleeping
• fluid draining from the ear
• difficulty hearing.
  

Other possible causes of earache

• Pressure changes in the ears (for example during take-off or landing in a plane or if there is a lot of mucus in the sinuses)
• Injury to the ear
• Irritation from a foreign object in the ear
• Impacted (packed-in) ear wax in the ear canal, usually caused by using cotton swabs incorrectly
• Swimmer's ear (otitis externa)

How to treat your child’s earache

If your child has an earache on an airplane, have them chew gum or swallow to help relieve the pressure in their ears. If your child is an infant, allowing them to suck on a bottle or breastfeed while the plane lands may ease their discomfort.

If your child is diagnosed with an ear infection, and they are under six months of age, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. If your child is older than six months and they have only mild discomfort and a low-grade fever, your doctor might decide to wait for two or three days to see if the ear infection gets better on its own. If your child is older than six months, but they are in a lot of pain or have a high fever, the doctor might decide to start the antibiotic treatment right away.

You can give over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce your child’s pain. Only give ibuprofen if your child is drinking reasonably well. Do not give ibuprofen to babies younger than 6 months without first talking to your doctor.

When to call a doctor for earache

See a doctor if:

• your child has severe pain and fever
• your child's symptoms get worse over the next 24 to 48 hours
• your child has dizziness, severe headaches, stiff neck or swelling around or behind the ear
• your child has fluid or blood oozing from the ear.