How to Relieve the Pain of a Child's Ear Infection

After the common cold, an ear infection is the most common childhood illness in the United States, according to KidsHealth. Most children have experienced at least one ear infection before the age of 3. When a child has a cold, the small passage that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat may get blocked by congestion or mucus, resulting in a buildup of fluid inside the ear. If bacteria also gets trapped, it can lead to an ear infection.

Things You'll Need

  • Acetaminophen or ibuprofen
  • Ear drops
  • Washcloth

Instructions

    • 1

      Look for the typical signs of an ear infection. The fluid pressing against the eardrum may cause your child to complain of pain in his ear. If your child is too young to articulate this, he may become irritable or pull at his ear. Loss of appetite and sleeping problems are also common signs, because lying down and eating can cause painful pressure changes in the ear. Extremely high pressure from the buildup of fluid may result in a ruptured eardrum, which will cause the fluid to drain out of the ear.

    • 2

      Take your child to a doctor for diagnosis and treatment if you suspect he has an ear infection. The treatment proposed by your doctor will depend on his age, the duration and severity of your child's infection, how often he gets ear infections, his age and whether his infection has affected his hearing. Your doctor may suggest that you simply wait and see what happens over the next few days, as most ear infections clear on their own. Otherwise, a course of antibiotics is the most common treatment, says Mayo Clinic. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, follow his instructions for use and complete the course, even if symptoms disappear.

    • 3

      Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve the pain of his ear infection, obtained over the counter from your pharmacist. Follow the manufacturer's directions for use.

    • 4

      Administer pain-relieving ear drops, if prescribed by your doctor. This is only suitable if the eardrum is still intact. Ask your child to lie down on a flat surface with his infected ear facing up. Place the bottle of ear drops in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes to heat it slightly. Put the recommended dose in your child's ear.

    • 5

      Moisten a clean washcloth with warm water to create a compress. Place it against your child's ear to ease the pain.

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