Definition
- Pain or discomfort in or around the ear
- Child reports an earache
- Younger child acts like he did with previous ear infection (e.g., crying or fussy)
Cause
- Usually due to an ear infection
- Ear infections peak at age 6 months to 2 years
- The onset of ear infections peaks on day 3 of a cold
Return to School
- An earache or ear infection is not contagious. No need to miss any school or daycare.
When to Call Your Doctor for Earache
Call 911 If…
- Your child is not moving or too weak to stand
Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
- Your child looks or acts very sick
- Earache is severe and not improved 2 hours after taking ibuprofen
- Pink or red swelling behind the ear
- Stiff neck (can't touch chin to chest)
- Fever over 104° F (40° C) and not improved 2 hours after fever medicine
- Pointed object was inserted into the ear canal (e.g., a pencil, stick or wire)
Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If
- All other earaches, but none of the symptoms described above (Reason: probably an ear infection)
Home Care Advice for Suspected Ear Infection (until your child can be seen)
- Reassurance:
- Your child may have an ear infection, but it doesn't sound serious. The only way to be sure is to examine the eardrum.
- Diagnosis and treatment can safely wait until morning if the earache begins after 5 pm.
- Ear pain can be controlled with pain medicine and eardrops.
- Pain Medicine: Give acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain relief or for fever above 102° F (39° C).
- Local Cold: Apply a cold pack or a cold wet wash cloth to the outer ear for 20 minutes to reduce pain while the pain medicine takes effect. (Note: Some children prefer local heat for 20 minutes.)
- Avoid Earplugs: If pus or cloudy fluid is draining from the ear canal, the eardrum has ruptured from an ear infection. Wipe the pus away as it appears. Avoid plugging with cotton (Reason: Retained pus causes irritation or infection of the ear canal).
- Eardrops: 3 drops of prescription eardrops or olive oil drops will usually relieve pain not helped by pain medicine. If your child has ear tubes or a hole in the eardrum, don't use them.
- Contagiousness: Ear infections are not contagious.
- Call Your Doctor If:
- Your child develops severe pain
- Your child becomes worse
And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the "When to Call Your Doctor" symptoms.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.
Author and Senior Reviewer: Barton D. Schmitt, M.D.
Last Reviewed: 1/19/2009
Last Revised: 6/24/2008
Copyright 1994-2009 Barton D. Schmitt, M.D.