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Ear pain in a child can be caused by various factors, both external and internal. Most of these factors lead to the development of inflammation of the organ of hearing, otitis externa or otitis media. Let’s consider these factors in more detail. Ear pain can be caused by:
- Ingress of a foreign body into the external auditory canal (for example, buttons, fleece, etc.);
- Trauma to the ear or auricle (for example, burns, insect bites);
- Accumulation of a large amount of earwax;
- Water in the ear from the pool or while bathing in the shower;
- As a result of hypothermia during windy weather;
- In infectious diseases such as tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis;
- With low blood pressure.
Ear pain in a child is always out of place. Often it overtakes parents during rest (in this case, there are more chances of catching an infection, as well as getting water from the pool into the auricle), on holidays and at night.
The first step is to determine the cause of the earache. Most children under the age of one have problems with ear infections. This is due to the anatomical features of the location of the Eustachian tube. In young children, it is wide and short, which contributes to the direct entry of infection from the nasopharynx into the Eustachian tube and further into the middle ear cavity. Moreover, milk can be thrown into the Eustachian tube during breastfeeding. Therefore, after feeding the child, it is advisable to hold it upright for some time.
Ear pain often develops at night, since the horizontal position contributes to the reflux of infection into the Eustachian tube and the middle ear cavity.
Pain in the ears is usually sharp, shooting, while the child cries, is naughty. At an older age, the child will definitely report sharp pains in the ear. If you are convinced that it is the ears that hurt, you must urgently consult a doctor or call an ambulance. The doctor will make an appropriate diagnosis and make appointments.
How to understand that a child has earaches
Understanding what exactly is bothering your baby is not easy, because he cannot tell you about it. In order to make sure that the child’s ears hurt, you can lightly press your finger on the cartilage on the auricle (tragus). Such pressing will increase the pain, and the child will burst into tears.
First aid for ear pain
If you are convinced that your child is worried about ear pain, you can take the following measures:
- With severe unbearable pain, an anesthetic (paracetamol or ibuprofen) should be given. You can drip painkillers drops (Otipax, Otinum), but only if there is no purulent discharge from the ear. If you called an ambulance, you do not need to take any action until it arrives. The doctor should examine the child and make sure of the symptoms;
- The child needs to be seated. This position will facilitate the discharge of mucus from the Eustachian tubes and ear pain will decrease;
- When the temperature rises to 38 ° C and above, it is necessary to give antipyretics (paracetamol, ibuprofen);
- With nasal congestion, it is necessary to free the nose from mucus, drip vasoconstrictor drops (Nazivin, Tizin, etc.). This will help the discharge of mucus and pus from the Eustachian tube and reduce pain;
- An alcohol compress can be done only in the absence of temperature and purulent compartments from the ear. Otherwise, the heat will only encourage the growth of microbes. For a compress, moisten gauze with alcohol and wrap it around the ear, put wax paper and warm cotton wool on top. Wrap it all up with a warm scarf or scarf.
Is it possible to treat at home
At home, you can provide first aid to the child, give painkillers for severe pain in the ear and antipyretics for high temperatures. However, the child must be shown to a laryngologist. Further treatment of the child can take place on an outpatient basis. At high temperatures, bed rest is indicated. The doctor may consider hospitalization if complications of otitis media develop.