earache can be described as anything that causes pain within or surrounding the
ear and is one of the most common childhood complaints in a pediatric
When your child has an earache, he or she may:
- Pull at the ear
- Cry or be irritable
- Have ear drainage
- Have some loss of
- Possibly have a fever.
What causes an
Common causes of earache include different types of infection, injury, or
pressure. Middle ear infections are especially common in children 2 years
of age and younger and are often seen during or after a cold. This is the
result of infection developing behind the eardrum where fluid may have
accumulated during the cold. Outer ear infections (swimmer's ear), though
painful, are quite different in that it is the skin lining the ear canal that
becomes infected and painful. This typically happens during the summer
with older kids who have been swimming, thus the term "swimmer's
Pain from injury to the ear canal or eardrum can occur in a number of
ways depending on age and circumstance. It's not unusual to see an injury
from a cotton swab or from a small toy along with an assortment of other
foreign objects a toddler might find irresistible. Pressure from impacted
wax or changes in air pressure can also produce pain.
Sometimes children will say their ear hurts when in fact, the pain is
actually radiating from another location. We call this referred
pain. This can be caused by sore throats; tooth, gum or teething pain;
pain of the scalp, neck or sinuses.
How is it treated?
Suspected middle ear infections should be evaluated by your doctor. Ear
pain itself can be treated with an appropriate dose of acetaminophen or
ibuprofen. Antibiotics are usually reserved for kids under 6 months of
age when symptoms won't improve or when accompanied by high fever or other
significant signs of illness.
Outer ear infections are usually treated with antibiotic drops and
modified swimming activities. There are various drying techniques that can be
used to help prevent these types of ear infections as well.
Impacted wax or foreign body removal is generally best handled by your
How can I help my child?
For middle ear infections, follow your doctor's instructions for care and
follow up. To help relieve pain, you may:
- Give your child
acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Put a cold pack or wet
cloth on the ear for 15 - 20 minutes
- Put a warm moist cloth
over the ear.
To keep wax from impacting, remember to never put things like cotton
swabs into the ear canal.
To help with pressure such as that which may occur with air travel, have the
older child attempt to blow out while pinching the nose and keeping the mouth
closed. You can help prevent this problem with a baby by nursing or
bottle feeding while the plane is climbing or descending. Swallowing
helps equalize air pressure.
When should I call my doctor?
- Your child is crying
- Your child suddenly
has problems hearing
- Your child has fever
with the earache
- You know or suspect
there is a foreign object in the ear
- You know or suspect
there was trauma to the ear.
This page was authored
by Dr. Lauren Mitchell.