Earaches are a common problem with children, especially during cold and flu season or during times of the year where allergens levels are high. In fact, three out of four children will develop an infection-related earache by the time they reach the age of 3, making ear infection one of the top reasons why parents bring their children into a doctor's office, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
Ear Infection
One of the primary causes of an earache in children is an infection. This infection typically develops either in the middle ear or outer ear when fluid builds up in the middle ear in the eustachian tube. The buildup provides the right condition for bacteria to thrive and cause infection. These types of earaches are more likely to occur alongside other health issues like colds or allergies whencongestion is present.
Other Causes
Earaches can also be caused by a wide range of other factors, including water or soap in the ears, digging too deep with a cotton swab in the ear, impacted earwax, sinus infections, tooth infections or a ruptured ear drum. Your pediatrician can better diagnose the cause of your child's earache after a thorough exam.
Symptoms
Earache symptoms can vary depending on the age of the child and the severity of the earache. Common symptoms may include fever, complaining of ear pain, crying, irritability, pulling at or playing with the ears, or fussiness. More severe symptoms, which necessitate emergency medical attention, include severe headache, dizziness, severe pain, swelling of the ear and a fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
Treatment
Earaches typically go away on their own within 24 to 48 hours. As a result, many physicians are hesitant to provide prescription antibiotics, according to the National Institutes of Health. You can help reduce your child's ear pain by placing a cold pack on the outer ear for 20 minutes at a time, using olive oil or over-the-counter ear drops, or giving him a children's pain reliever -- except aspirin, which should not be given to a child for an earache. If the pain continues for more than 48 hours, your doctor may prescribe medicinal ear drops or an antibiotic for infection. Chronic ear infections may necessitate other options, such as ear tubes.
