Childhood earache
Ibuprofen
Any parent who has spent the midnight hours comforting a distressed child with earache knows how miserable it can be. The stabbing pain is so intense that it leaves the child screaming in pain- and mum and dad howling with frustration. But there's plenty that you can do to recognise childhood earache and soothe the symptoms.
What is earache?
A young child or baby's earache is most commonly caused by an infection in the middle ear - the space between the eardrum and the inner ear - leading to inflammation. This is known as otitis media. A cold or sore throat can make the tubes between the ear and the throat swell and make catarrh. A blockage can form causing fluid to build up in the middle ear. This 'stagnant' fluid is vulnerable to infection by bacteria and viruses, causing fever, swelling and pain.
Children are more vulnerable to ear infections because their 'eustachian tubes' (the tubes connecting the ear and the throat, which 'pop' when you go up in an aeroplane) are smaller and lay flatter than in adults. This means that the infection can spread more easily from the throat to the middle ear and makes it more difficult for fluid to drain away. The tube grows and develops so that, by five or six years, ear infections become less common.
How will I know if my child has earache?
An older child will tell you exactly where their pain is coming from, but with babies with earache it can be difficult to read the signs. However, there may be a few clues to help you recognise ear infections in babies and children:
- Typically ear infections come on three to four days after a cold or sore throat.
- A baby with earache may cry and tug her ear.
- The ear may appear red.
- There may be yellowish fluid leaking out if the eardrum has burst; this will bring a welcome drop in pain.
- The infected fluid may affect their hearing; so get a check-up if your child asks you to repeat things or stares at your mouth while you are talking. Often, however, children with ear infections cannot localise the pain and all you will see is a feverish, miserable child who cannot be comforted.
If you are worried, see your GP who can look at the eardrum and make the diagnosis.
Earache treatments
- Ease the pain and fever with regular doses of a children's painkiller. An ibuprofen suspension such as Nurofen for Children is ideal and will help relieve the pain and reduce any accompanying fever.
- Doctors have a saying: 'The only thing you should put in your ear is your elbow!' Poking or pouring anything in will do more harm than good. So resist, unless the eardrum has been checked and you are following medical advice.
- Keeping ears warm is also an effective treatment for ear infections. Heat can be soothing, so try holding a well-wrapped hot water bottle against the ear and make sure you protect the ear with a scarf or earmuffs if you venture outside.
You should always have your child's ears checked by a doctor if he develops severe earache. This can often wait until the daylight hours, although you should treat the pain and fever straight away:
- If your doctor has diagnosed your baby or child with an ear infection, it is worth making an appointment for 10-14 days later to check that the fluid has cleared and any holes in the eardrum have healed.
- Green or yellow fluid coming out of the ear suggests that the eardrum has burst. Your doctor may want to prescribe antibiotic medication (either by mouth or as drops) and take a swab of the fluid.
- If you're worried: Complications are much less common since antibiotics became widely available but rarely the infection can spread to the mastoid bone behind the ear. It can also inflame a nerve in the area leading to temporary numbing of the face and in very rare cases severe infections can spread leading to meningitis.
- If the hearing is affected: If your child is trying to read your lips or mishearing you, it's vital to get a check up.
- Prop your baby up during a breast or bottle-feed; lying flat increases the risk of ear infections.
It is also important not to smoke at home; it does not just affect children's breathing, but it can also make them more likely to get middle ear infections.
For more information on Nurofen for Children click here
Nurofen for Children contains Ibuprofen. Always read the product label.
