Earaches occur often during childhood, particularly in children under 3 years, and knowing how to minimize the pain helps to keep both your and your child from getting overwhelmed. Warm compresses serve as an inexpensive but often-overlooked pain-relief measure that can relieve the throbbing pain of a pediatric earache. As a precaution, check with your pediatrician before using warm compresses and other home remedies to relieve earache pain in your child, particularly if she's younger than 12 months or has a history of ear problems.
Earache Background
Earaches in children usually result from allergies or an infection in the middle ear that swells the nasal passages and Eustachian tubes. The pain of the earache develops when backed-up fluid clogged in the middle ear presses against the eardrum, causing swelling, inflammation and redness. Failing to reduce the swelling promptly could result in extreme pressure, which might cause the thin, delicate tissue of the eardrum to tear. Many earaches in children improve with home-care remedies, such as warm compresses, but be prepared to arrange an appointment with the pediatrician if the pain worsens or continues for more than 24 hours, or if you notice any ear discharge.
Features
Several features of warm compresses make them an ideal home remedy for relieving earache pain in children. The heat itself increases blood flow to the ear area, which promotes oxygen flow and reduces pain and inflammation. When the heat is moist, such as that produced by a wrung-out washcloth, it's typically able to penetrate more deeply into the ear canal and produce more noticeable pain relief. For many children, the warmth also provides a calming effect, which encourages them to relax and focus less on the uncomfortable sensations and pain of the swollen eardrum.
Usage
Create a warm compress by thoroughly wetting a clean washcloth in warm -- not hot -- water. Twist the washcloth tightly to wring excess water from it, then fold it into halves, thirds or quarters, depending on your child's age and size. Rest the folded washcloth against the affected ear, positioning it so that it completely covers the external portion of the child's ear and the 2 inches of the jaw and neck that extend directly below the ear. Encourage the child to rest her head on the non-affected ear, preferably on a pillow or other raised surface. Hold the warm compress in place for up to 20 minutes or until it cools down.
Considerations
Warm compresses work to minimize earache pain for some children, but be prepared if this relief technique doesn't seem to be reducing the pain adequately on its own. Additional pain-relief options that often work well when used in conjunction with warm compresses include oral analgesics, topical eardrops and improving drainage of ear fluid. Analgesics appropriate for use with most children include acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Inserting several drops of slightly warmed olive oil or an over-the-counter topical earache solution into the aching ear also could help reduce pain, as long as your child doesn't have a ruptured eardrum, according to the MedlinePlus online medical encyclopedia. You might also be able to decrease earache-caused pain by propping your child in a half-sitting position, which cuts down on eardrum pressure and encourages better drainage. Consult your child's pediatrician before administering any over-the-counter medications, and be sure to use the correct dosage if your doctor does give you the go-ahead.
References
- MedlinePlus: Earache
- "Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child"; Robert Rountree, M.D., et al.; 2003
- "The Textbook of Basic Nursing"; Caroline Bunker Rosdahl, R.N.; 2008
- "Home Doctor"; Dr. Michael Peters; 2009
