Earache is one of the common reasons why children are taken to a doctor or emergency department. The pain has various causes thus it is ideal to consult a doctor if a child complains of earache or an infant has indications of ear pain.
What are the causes of earache?
The usual cause of earache is an infection such as external ear infection or middle ear infection. Children oftentimes place objects in their ears that triggers pain. The buildup of ear wax can block the ear canal that can also result to a sore ear.
In uncommon cases, the cause for earache might be a ruptured eardrum due to an accident or an object has been driven too far into the ear. The child might also have earache due to an injury or infection somewhere close to the ear and pain is felt.
Indications
Earache typically occur on only one side. The child might also experience fever, runny nose or vomiting. This can also be accompanied by intense pain. A child with earache might pull or tug on the affected ear. The child is generally irritable and has difficulty sleeping.
When to consult a doctor
If a child experiences pain or discomfort in the ear, a doctor should be consulted so that assessment can carried out.
Management
The treatment for earache usually depends on the exact cause and a doctor should be consulted. If the child has a sore ear due to an ear infection, the doctor might decide to pinpoint first the cause of the infection before deciding on the suitable treatment. Most cases of infection are caused by viruses; thus antibiotics will not work. The doctor will prescribe antibiotics only if the infection is caused by bacteria.
Provide the child with ibuprofen or paracetamol at the recommended dosage to ease earache due to an ear infection.
For a foreign object in the ear, the treatment depends on the type of object. If it is soft, the doctor will utilize fine forceps or a specialized spoon to get rid of it. For a hard object, the doctor might use a special syringe to flush it out.