While earaches can occur in adults, they are more likely to be a pediatric problem. Infections in the middle ear are common among children because their eustachian tubes are shorter and lie more horizontally, causing a buildup of fluids. If your child complains of ear pain, a trip to the pediatrician is in order before you reach for alternative approaches like fish oil. MedlinePlus reports that permanent hearing loss is rare, but the risk increases with the number of infections.
Causes
Often earaches start after a child has a sore throat or upper respiratory infection. If these infections are caused by bacteria, the bacteria can spread to the middle ear, where the combination of warmth and fluids are a fertile breeding ground infections cause fluid to bild up behind the ear drum which causes the earache. Fish oil does not have antibacterial properties, so it is not considered as a treatment.
Home Remedies
MedlinePlus recommends applying a cold pack to the outer ear for 20 minutes. MayoClinic.com recommends a warm compress. Over-the-counter ear drops can be effective if the eardrum is not ruptured.
Often doctors will wait several days before prescribing antibiotics, because such infections often resolve by themselves. If a child has frequent and persistent infections, surgical placement of tubes in the child's middle ear may be necessary.
Fish oil is not a conventional or complementary treatment for earaches, as there is little evidence suggesting that it benefits this condition.
Fish Oil
Fish oil contains oil expressed from the bodies of whole fish. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, better known as DHA and EPA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a brand of fish oil high in DHA and EPA for the treatment of high triglycerides. Other credible uses include lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Treating earaches is not found among the possible uses listed by MayoClinic.com or the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Malnourished Children
The interest in fish oil for earaches may stem from a study in the July 2002 "Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology." This study identified nine children who had low levels of EPA, vitamin A and selenium. When eight of the children regularly took cod liver oil and selenium, fewer antibiotics were needed to treat middle ear infections; this was not true for the one child who did not take these supplements. These results are not generally applicable because the children were malnourished to begin with. Moreover, the study used cod liver oil instead of fish oil, because cod liver oil is very high in vitamin A.
References
- New York Eye and Ear Infirmary: Cod Liver Oil and a Vitamin/Mineral Tablet May Prevent Middle Ear Infections in Children
- "Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology"; Lemon-Flavored Cod Liver Oil and a Multivitamin-Mineral Supplement for the Secondary Prevention of Otitis Media in Young Children: Pilot Research; L.A. Linday, et al.; July 2002
- Mayo Clinic; Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Fish Oil, Alpha-Linolenic Acid; November 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders; Ear Infections in Children; January 2011
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