As one of the most common childhood ailments, ear infections represent the most common reason doctors prescribe antibiotics for children. Antibiotics, however, do not provide immediate relief of the pain, and not all children need antibiotics. If your doctor has diagnosed an ear infection, over-the-counter products and at-home natural solutions can provide your child with that much needed pain relief.
Pain Pills
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help with the pain in a child age 2 years or older. Follow the dosing instructions for weight and age on the product's label. Generally, you can give the pain reliever every four hours, up to five times a day. Consult a doctor for a child younger than 2. Never give a child aspirin as it may cause Reye's syndrome, which affects the brain and liver and is potentially fatal.
Eardrops
Eardrops also provide pain relief by numbing the ear. In most cases, over-the-counter eardrops do the trick, but your doctor may also prescribe antipyrine-benzocaine drops. Follow the instructions on the package for dosing. Warm the eardrop bottle under warm water, and apply the drops in the affected ear while your child lies on her side. Don't give a child younger than age 2 benzocaine eardrops without the doctor's consent because in rare cases, it decreases the amount of oxygen that the blood carries.
Natural Remedies
Instead of over-the-counter or prescription eardrops, several drops of either warm olive oil, vegetable oil or garlic oil provide a natural pain relief, cites AskDrSears.com. Use a medicine dropper to administer the oil. If you see any liquid draining of out the ear, do not apply any kind of drops to the ear. Applying a warm, moist washcloth or warm water bottle to the ear also helps. Ensure the oil and compress are not too warm to prevent burning the skin.
Antibiotics
While many ear infections clear up within one to two weeks without medication, bacterial ear infections require antibiotics. While an antibiotic is not a pain-reliever, killing the bacteria inside the ear eventually relieves pain. To avoid possible side effects, such as rash and diarrhea, your doctor may recommend the wait-and-see approach for the first 48 hours if your child is 2 years of age or older. If symptoms do not improve, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic, such as amoxicillin. Any child younger than 6 months old, or any child age 6 months to 2 years with a fever or more pronounced symptoms, needs antibiotics.
