Earache pain is no laughing matter, as it is capable of reducing adults to tears. Whether you or your child suffers from an earache, knowing about options for pain relief can be essential in minimizing the pain promptly and effectively. Depending on the cause of earache pain, topical drops can play a role in treatment. Check with your doctor before using topical drops, especially in infants and young children.
Explanation
Earache pain can be mild or severe and occur in various locations, including the ear canal, the eardrum and the middle ear. Symptoms that may accompany an earache include a fever and redness on the outside of the ear, as well as pulling at the ear, crying, excessive irritability and fussiness in children. Ear pain can arrive suddenly or build up gradually, depending upon the cause.
Causes
Most earaches in children arise when the child develops a middle ear infection; also called otitis media, a middle ear infection often arises when fluid blockage occurs in the child's Eustachian tube. In these cases, topical drops can help minimize the pain but may not treat the cause of the earache, which could require antibiotics.
Although adults sometimes get middle ear infections, earaches generally arise from other causes, such as compacted wax, which develops in up to 57 percent of geriatric nursing home patients, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. In this situation, topical ear drops relieve pain by softening the hardened chunk of wax that caused the earache.
Types of Drops
Home remedies for earache pain typically include body-temperature olive oil and mineral oil; instilled directly in the affected ear canal, several drops may help reduce the pain from middle ear infections and compacted wax. Over-the-counter topical drops for earache pain are sold under a variety of brand names, but most typically contain a combination of natural ingredients common in homeopathic medicine, such as Chamomilla and Pulsatilla. Prescription topical drops typically contain benzocaine and antipyrine; these ingredients help minimize ear pain, as well as reduce swelling and congestion that occurs with certain ear infections, according to Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia. Prescription drops containing benzocaine and antipyrine also soften compacted earwax.
Considerations
Depending on the situation, topical ear drops may not be the most appropriate solution for reducing ear pain in children. Dr. Raymond Baker, professor of clinical pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and author of "Pediatric Primary Care: Ill-Child Care," notes that prescription earache pain medication must come in direct contact with the affected eardrum in order to produce the proper pain-relieving effect. Proper instillation of these pain-relieving drops can pose problems for parents, especially if the child is in extreme pain and doesn't want to hold still. In some cases, over-the-counter oral pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, could provide a simpler, more convenient way to relieve pain from a child's earache.
Warning
In certain cases, such as when the eardrum may be perforated, using topical drops for earache pain could lead to serious complications, including permanent loss of hearing. Never use topical drops for earache pain if you've suffered an ear injury or suspect you may have a punctured eardrum. According to Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia, signs of a punctured eardrum include clear, pus-colored or blood-tinged ear discharge, intense ear pain, dizziness and loss of hearing.
References
- Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: Earache
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Cerumen Impaction
- "Pediatric Primary Care: Ill-Child Care"; Dr. Raymond Baker; 2001
- Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: Antipyrine-Benzocaine Otic
- Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: Ruptured Eardrum
