Introduction
Children can have ear infections frequently, which causes pain in the ear. But the doctors might not prescribe antibiotics every time. The prescribing guidelines have changed over the past five years. And not every time, the ear infection needs to be treated with antibiotics. Most of the time, the infection clears on its own and does not require any treatment as such. If the infection does not subside within two to three days, then you may have to consider consulting a doctor and taking prescribed medicines.
What Is an Ear Ache?
Earache can occur in both adults and children, but mostly it is seen in children. Ear aches can affect one or both ears at the same time. In the majority of cases, only one ear is seen to be affected. The pain may be constant or come and go and maybe dull, sharp, or shooting pain.
Earache can also be associated with fever and temporary hearing loss. When young children have ear aches, they tend to be fuzzy and irritated. They may also tug or rub their ears frequently.
What Are the Common Causes of Ear Infection?
There are various conditions that can cause earache; some of them include injury, infection, or pain that may be referred from other parts. Causes of the ear ache can include:
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Ear Infection
An ear infection is mostly caused due to infection of the part of the ear behind the eardrum, that is, the middle ear. Ear infection term mostly refers to the term otitis media. Anyone can get an ear infection, adults and children both, but ear infections are very common in children. In most cases, ear infection clears on its own, and the doctors might prescribe painkillers for the same. In case the ear infection is not resolved or worsened, then the doctors will prescribe antibiotics for the same. In children of age younger than two years, antibiotics are required for treating ear infections.
Other causes include:
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Altitude changes, such as when flying on a plane or mountaineering.
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Ear wax builds up.
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Foreign object in the ear.
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Upper respiratory tract infection.
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Sinus infection.
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Water trapped in the ear (swimmer’s ear).
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Use cotton swabs in the ear.
Other-not-so common causes include:
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Perforated eardrum.
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Tooth infection.
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Impacted tooth.
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Trigeminal neuralgia.
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Arthritis of the jaw.
What Are the Symptoms Associated With Ear Ache?
Ear aches can occur due to many reasons. So along with that, the patients might also experience symptoms such as:
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Impaired hearing.
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Fluid drainage from the ear.
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Sense of fullness or clogged ear.
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Difficulty sleeping.
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Tugging or pulling of the ear.
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Crying.
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Irritability is especially seen in younger children.
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Headache.
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Loss of appetite.
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Balance-related problems.
What Are the Home Remedies for Ear Ache?
Every time when a person experiences earache, it may not necessarily be due to infections and need not be antibiotics every time for treatment. Some things can be found at home which will provide relief from ear aches like:
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Over-the-Counter Painkillers- These painkillers are found to be effective for earache. Painkillers like Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen can be given for ear pain. They can be given along with or without antibiotics. They also help to subside other symptoms like fever along with ear infections. These can also be given to children after confirming the dosage from a doctor.
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Cold or Warm Compress- We can use ice packs or heating pads in case of ear pain, too, like used in case of other pain conditions. This method can be done for both children and adults. Place the warm or cold compress over the ear for some seconds and then alternate between the warm and cold compresses with a time interval of ten minutes.
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Neck Exercises- Sometimes, the earache is caused by pressure in the ear canal. This can be relieved by doing certain neck exercises. Neck rotation exercises are particularly helpful.
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Hydrogen Peroxide- Hydrogen peroxide has been used as a remedy for ear aches for several years. Put some drops of hydrogen peroxide into the ear canal and let it remain there for some time, and drain it into the sink, following which rinse your ear with distilled water.
When to Consult a Doctor?
The home remedy to treat the ear ache will depend upon the cause of the earache. If the earache is due to some referred pain, then it will not be resolved until the cause is treated. In such cases, the home remedies will not be of use. Most of the time, the ear infection clears up on its own with symptoms getting upon a few days and does not require any treatment. If the patient is below two years, always consult a pediatrician.
You should consult a doctor if any of these symptoms arise other than earache, such as:
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Dizziness.
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Severe headache.
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Swelling around the ear.
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If the severe ear ache suddenly stops (could be due to a ruptured eardrum).
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Pus drainage from the ear.
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High-grade fever.
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Drooping of the facial muscles.
Conclusion
Ear ache is associated with many conditions, and the most common among them is an ear infection. Most of the treatments are not needed, and the symptoms resolve on their own. Other than antibiotics, there are certain things that can be done at home which will provide relief from the symptoms. But the symptoms should be monitored while doing these home remedies. If you observe that the home remedies are not providing any relief and are worsening the present symptoms, then the use of the home remedies should be stopped at that moment, and you should consult with a doctor.