Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger

Home Treatment

When ear discomfort or pain is mild or comes and goes (intermittent) and occurs without other symptoms, home treatment may be all that is needed to relieve your child's discomfort. Home treatment measures include the following:

• Encourage your child to swallow more often. The discomfort may be caused by a blocked eustachian tube that can occur with mild irritation in the ear canal. Let a child younger than age 12 months drink from a bottle or cup to help open the eustachian tube. A child age 2 or 3 may get the same benefit from chewing gum. Be sure to supervise your toddler when he or she chews gum.
• Some babies and children with ear pain are more comfortable in an upright position. Allow the child to rest in the position that is most comfortable.
• To relieve moderate to severe ear pain while waiting to see your doctor, or to relieve a red, swollen external ear:
  • Apply heat to the ear to ease pain. Use a warm face cloth. Be careful not to burn the skin around the ear. There may be some drainage when the heat melts earwax.
  • Encourage your child to rest as much as possible.

Medicine you can buy without a prescription

Try an over-the-counter medicine to help treat your child's pain or fever:
Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol or Panadol Ibuprofen, such as Motrin or Advil Do not alternate ibuprofen and acetaminophen because of the possible risk of overdose. Studies have not shown any additional benefit by alternating these medicines.

Safety tips

Be sure to follow these safety tips when you use an over-the-counter medicine:
Carefully read and follow all labels on the medicine bottle and box. Take, but do not exceed, the maximum recommended doses. Do not give your child a medicine if he or she has had an allergic reaction to it in the past. Do not give ASA to anyone younger than age 20 unless directed to do so by your child's doctor.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your child's symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment.

• Your child's pain gets worse.
• Your child develops a fever.
• Swelling develops around the ear.
• New or different drainage from the ear develops.
• Mild intermittent pain continues after 1 week of home treatment.
• Your child's symptoms become more severe or more frequent.

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Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: May 22, 2006
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
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