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Fast Relief for an Ear Infection

Ear infections are common in children and happen occasionally in adults as well. They can be quite painful, especially for youngsters who really suffer even when the infection is mild. Ear infections occur when fluid and bacteria build up in some part of the ear, creating painful levels of pressure in the ear. Stress, excessive swimming, poor diet and allergies are common causes of ear infection. There are a number of good home remedies for fast relief of an ear infection that you can try before an antibiotic treatment, but in any case it's good to consult a physician.

  1. Pain Relief

    • To relieve pain, use any over-the-counter pain reliever except aspirin when treating a child. Advil, Aleve, Motrin and Tylenol are all effective in reducing pain. Kids should take a smaller dose every 4 hours (follow the indications on the box) and especially before bedtime to help them to sleep. Apply heat to the ear often using a heating pad or warm washcloth. Be careful not to burn the skin. There are also some pain-relieving eardrops on the market, usually available by prescription, so consult your doctor about these.

    Diet

    • Some diet changes can help relieve ear infections and prevent them from happening in the future. Milk, onion and cold drinks can make earaches worse. Eat lots of fruits rich in vitamin C and plenty of fresh vegetables. Don't drink or smoke if you have an ear infection. Spicy, oily foods may also aggravate the infection.

    Home Remedies

    • Choosenatural.com recommends a number of natural home remedies to treat ear infections. They recommend placing a few drops of warm onion juice or olive oil in each ear. A couple drops of hydrogen peroxide in the ear can also be effective. For very young children, a little breast milk in the ears may help clear the infection. When applying heat, you can heat up a cup of warm salt or rice, place it in a sock and keep on the ear for about 10 minutes.

    Additional Tips and Warnings

    • You should always consult your doctor when dealing with ear infections, as they can be linked to more serious conditions. Keep the head elevated whenever possible to help drain the ear. Avoid swimming with an ear infection, as this can make the problem worse. You can also try certain breathing exercises and yoga if you or your child suffers from chronic ear infection. Also, be aware that antihistamines and decongestants usually do more harm than good for a person with an ear infection.

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