Earache in kids is common and can result from different causes. For example, your child may complain about pain in the ears during a respiratory tract infection (RTI) due to the spreading of the RTI up to the ears, causing earaches. The earaches might also develop from ruptured eardrums (1) (2). Diagnosing the cause and providing the necessary treatment would protect the ear from further complications. Although ear pains in children are harmless, they may cause irritation, interfere with daily activities, recur and persist for longer. Read on to know about the causes, symptoms, treatments, home remedies, and preventive measures for earache in children.
Is It Normal For Children To Have Earaches?
Earaches in children are common since their ears could get triggered even during the common flu. Furthermore, the following factors make children even more prone to earaches than adults (1).
The eustachian tube of a child is smaller than that of an adult; hence, making the drainage of fluids from the ear difficult when the tube swells or gets blocked due to a respiratory illness or cold.
A child’s immunity is still developing, thus making them more susceptible to infections.
The adenoids, a lymphatic tissue behind the nose that balances the body’s fluids and fights infections, can become infected. The infection could then extend to the eustachian tube and the ear.
How Does The Ear Work?
The working of the ear entails a series of complex events that occur almost simultaneously. First, any sound we hear through the external ears (pinnae) travels and reaches the eardrum through the ear canals. Next, the sound vibrations from the eardrum stimulate the three tiny bones—the malleus, incus, and stapes—of the middle ear, which in turn transfer the vibrations to the inner ear (3) (4). The inner ear consists of a fluid-filled and spiral-shaped bone called the cochlea. As the stapes vibrates, it initiates a wave-like motion in the fluid of the cochlea. This, in turn, stimulates the microscopic hair cells in the cochlea to vibrate. Further, each hair cell detects a specific pitch or frequency of sound it is designed to respond to and triggers the nerve impulses, which ultimately reach the brain’s hearing center called the auditory cortex via the auditory nerve and are converted into meaningful sound (3).
Causes Of Earache In Children
The outer and middle ears are the common sites of pain as infections or blockages of the ear canals could trigger an earache. Here are some common causes of earaches (4) (5) (6).
Signs And Symptoms Of Earache In Children
Sharp pain in the ear is the major sign of earache. Your child may also manifest the following symptoms (4) (5) (7).
Pain in and around the ear Pink or red swelling behind the ear Red, swollen, and painful outer ear Stiff neck Muffled hearing Fluid discharge from the ear Constant pulling or rubbing of the ear Insomnia
Loss of balance Decreased response to auditory cues Fever Irritability and constant crying Disinterest in eating (due to severe pain while swallowing)
Diagnosing Earache In Children
The preliminary analysis for earache includes physical examination using any of the following options (1) (4).
Treatment For Earache In Children
The treatment for earache in children depends on the causative factors (4).
If the pain is due to an ear infection, the cause of the infection is determined. The medical advisor may put your child on antibiotics for a few days if the pain is due to a bacterial infection. The doctor would treat an underlying upper-respiratory-tract infection accordingly. The pediatrician may suggest pain medications, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and also prescribe ear drops. If the pain is due to a physical injury, the child needs immediate medical care. Your health professional may suggest performing an ear tube surgery. In the case of frequent ear infections, an ENT specialist may also recommend ear tubes.
Prevention Of Earache In Children
Earaches usually subside on their own in children. Nevertheless, you could take a few measures to reduce recurring earaches in your child (1) (4).
Get them vaccinated against the common flu. Instill the importance of regular hand-washing as this reduces the spread of viruses. Prevent your child from sharing toys, bottles, or utensils with a sick person Breastfeed your child for the first year since studies have shown that breast-fed children are less susceptible to ear infections (8). Make them drink fluids in an upright position to prevent any liquids from entering the eustachian tubes. You must also not let them take a nap with a bottle in their mouth. Avoid smoking around your baby as secondhand smoke may cause frequent ear infections in children. Never use a cotton bud to clean your child’s ears.
Restrict your children from placing any object in the ears.
Home Remedies For Earache In Children
You could use the following home remedies to lessen the pain (9). Although the home remedies mentioned above could temporarily alleviate the pain, always consult a doctor before trying any home remedy for your child’s earache.
Unable to stand or too weak Earache not improving even after taking medicine High fever Painful swollen red ears
