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Earaches in Children

Children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years old frequently experience earaches. In fact, two out of three children experience ear infections by their third birthday. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, over 30 million prescriptions are written every year for earaches and infections. Earaches can signal a serious problem that requires a doctor's attention right away.

  1. What's the Cause?

    • The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back of your nose. Under normal conditions, fluid in the middle ear drains out through the tube. However, if there is a virus or bacteria infecting the eustachian tube, the tube swells and becomes filled with thick mucous. When this happens, the fluid cannot drain properly. Bacteria may grow in the fluid, which puts pressure on the eardrum and causes pain.

      Allergies, colds and other infections can cause earaches in children. They usually clear up within one to two weeks, but some children suffer from chronic, or recurring, infections. Earaches are more common in children because their eustachian tubes are shorter and more narrow than an adults. If not addressed, they can lead to more infections or hearing loss.

    Symptoms

    • The most obvious symptoms of an earache caused by an ear infection are pain and fever. Infants and very small children may not be able to tell you that they are hurting. They may cry constantly or you may notice ear pulling or scratching. Your child may also seem listless, refuse to eat and sleep or have problems hearing.

    Treatment

    • Ear infections caused by bacteria are usually treated with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor. Keep in mind that earaches caused by a virus will not respond to antibiotics. You should follow your doctors directions carefully, and avoid giving children antibiotics that are not prescribed for them.

      In addition to antibiotics, your doctor may suggest giving your child a pain reliever like acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, or ibuprofen products like Children's Advil. It will help them feel better and lower a fever. Do not give your child aspirin products for earache pain because aspirin is associated with Reye's syndrome.

    Risk Factors

    • There are factors that put some children at higher risk for developing ear infections. Children are at higher risk when they live in environments where people smoke or have a family history of ear infections or were born with a low birth weight. Children who use a pacifier, sleep with a bottle and those attending day care are at higher risk because of being around more germs and viruses. Children who frequently catch colds, have allergies and nasal congestion suffer from earaches more frequently than other children.

    Ear Tubes

    • Sometimes fluid remains in the middle ear after an infection clears. This fluid buildup is called ottis media with effusion. Not only can a child wind up with a nasty earache, it can also take the fluid two to three months to go away. While you wait for the fluid to drain, you may notice that your child has trouble hearing. Hearing should be back to normal once the fluid is gone.

      If the fluid remains in the middle ear for longer than three months, your doctor may recommend that your child wear ear tubes to help drain the fluid. Ear tubes can also reduce the number of ear infections and earaches your child gets.

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