Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHome RemediesPreventive StepsWhen to Call a DoctorFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Home Remedies
Preventive Steps
When to Call a Doctor
Frequently Asked Questions
Common signs of ear infections in children include:
Because of concerns surrounding antibiotic resistance, many doctors are avoiding prescribing antibiotics for ear infections unless absolutely necessary.
Treatment is usually more focused on pain relief, which can be managed effectively at home in most cases.
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There are a number of tips for helping relieve children’s earaches at home. Some of them are quite effective, and some fall closer to the category of “old wives' tales” without much evidence to back them up.
Remedies that have shown to be most helpful include the following:
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Pain Relievers
OTC medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) can help to relieve pain and to reduce fever if necessary.
Warning: Children and Aspirin
It’s important to follow proper dosing guidelines based on the child’s weight and/or age.
Warm or Cold Compress
A cool or warm wet washcloth applied to the outer ear for 20 minutes can provide some relief for earache.
To avoid the risk of burn or frostbite, make sure the compress is not too hot or cold, and don’t apply it for more than 20 minutes at a time.
Sleep Position
Certain sleep positions can help relieve pressure on the ear and reduce pain.
If only one ear is affected, have the child sleep on the opposite side to take pressure off the infected ear.
TLC
Sometimes the best “medicine” is good old-fashioned tender loving care.
Help the child get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Find calm and relaxing activities the child enjoys such as curling up on the couch with a favorite movie.
Ear Infection Home Remedy MythsWhile often recommended to parents through word of mouth, some home remedies for ear infections and earaches have little evidence to back up their efficacy and may even be harmful or sting the ear. These include:OTC numbing dropsGarlicOils such as olive or tea tree
Ear Infection Home Remedy Myths
While often recommended to parents through word of mouth, some home remedies for ear infections and earaches have little evidence to back up their efficacy and may even be harmful or sting the ear. These include:OTC numbing dropsGarlicOils such as olive or tea tree
While often recommended to parents through word of mouth, some home remedies for ear infections and earaches have little evidence to back up their efficacy and may even be harmful or sting the ear. These include:
Inner Ear Infection: What to Do When Ears Become Inflamed
Preventive Steps Are Key
The best thing for an ear infection is to avoid one entirely. While not a guarantee, there are measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of a child developing an ear infection.
Vaccinations
Keeping a childup-to-date on immunizationsis important for many reasons, among them helping to prevent ear infections.
All vaccines are important, but vaccines such as theflu vaccineandpneumococcal vaccineare especially recommended.
The Pneumococcal Vaccine and Ear InfectionsThe pneumococcal vaccine protects against Streptococcus pneumonia, which is a common cause of middle ear infections.
The Pneumococcal Vaccine and Ear Infections
The pneumococcal vaccine protects against Streptococcus pneumonia, which is a common cause of middle ear infections.
Avoid Secondhand Smoke
Secondhand smoke is harmful to children in many ways, including increasing the risk of ear infections.
Breastfeeding
Breastmilk contains many substances, such as antibodies, that help prevent children from a variety of illnesses including bacterial and viral infections.
Breastfeeding for the first year or longer can help reduce the risk of ear infections.
Practice Good Hygiene
Getting yourself and your child into the habit of frequent handwashing with soap and warm water goes a long way in preventing illness, including ear infections.
Keep bottles, pacifiers, and other items that go in the child’s mouth clean, and if possible use a sippy cup instead of a bottle to reduce the surface area for germs to live on.
Stay Away From People Who Are Sick
Children in child care are at an increased risk of getting ear infections.
While avoiding exposure to illness may be more difficult at daycare or school, it is best to avoid play dates and other gatherings with people who are sick or when the child themself is sick.
Be Mindful When Bottle Feeding
This helps to prevent ear infections and is important for other reasons as well such as safety and dental health.
While home remedies are often all that is needed for a child’s ear infection, avisit to a healthcare providermay be necessary.
Call your child’s healthcare provider if:
Your child’s healthcare provider may want to see the child even if home remedies seem to be working.
How is an ear infection diagnosed?
A healthcare provider will ask questions about the child’s medical history and symptoms, then look into the ears with a lighted instrument. Occasionally other tools may be used such as a pneumatic otoscope, which blows a puff of air into the ear canal, or atympanometer, which measures how flexible the eardrum is at different pressures.
How Ear Infections Are Diagnosed
How common are ear infections?
Ear infections are more common in children than in adults, with 90% of children having at least one ear infection, and 20% of children having frequent ear infections.
What if my child keeps getting ear infections?
Sometimes ear infections can be ongoing (chronic), frequently recurring or the fluid in the middle ear can even remain for months after the infection has cleared. In these cases, ear tubes (tympanostomy tubes) may be necessary to help drain fluid from your child’s ear.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Ear infections in children.American Academy of Pediatrics.Ear infections in children: Information for parents.Seattle Children’s.Ear infection questions.Cleveland Clinic.Home remedies for an ear infection: What to try and what to avoid.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chapter 17: Pneumococcal disease.American Academy of Pediatrics.Ear infection information.KidsHealth from Nemours.Ear tube surgery.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Ear infections in children.American Academy of Pediatrics.Ear infections in children: Information for parents.Seattle Children’s.Ear infection questions.Cleveland Clinic.Home remedies for an ear infection: What to try and what to avoid.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chapter 17: Pneumococcal disease.American Academy of Pediatrics.Ear infection information.KidsHealth from Nemours.Ear tube surgery.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Ear infections in children.American Academy of Pediatrics.Ear infections in children: Information for parents.Seattle Children’s.Ear infection questions.Cleveland Clinic.Home remedies for an ear infection: What to try and what to avoid.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chapter 17: Pneumococcal disease.American Academy of Pediatrics.Ear infection information.KidsHealth from Nemours.Ear tube surgery.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Ear infections in children.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Ear infections in children: Information for parents.
Seattle Children’s.Ear infection questions.
Cleveland Clinic.Home remedies for an ear infection: What to try and what to avoid.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection basics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chapter 17: Pneumococcal disease.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Ear infection information.
KidsHealth from Nemours.Ear tube surgery.
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