Symptoms
Whether a child suffers from earache is not always easy to determine. Especially with small children and infants, a close observation of their behavior helps to get information about the type of pain. Is the child weeping, does the parent who examines it turn away the affected side or even rubs the painful area?
Older children can usually provide information about their complaints, but it should be noted that ear pain can occur at many points on the hearing organ and the child usually does not describe the pain in detail. In addition to the pinna, the outer ear canal or the inner ear, for example, can be affected. Sore throats can radiate into the ear and teething problems also occasionally lead to earaches.
The quality of the pain is helpful. If it is a sharp pain or a burning pain, the ear itches or the pain depends on the position. Depending on the cause, ear pain can be accompanied by impaired hearing.
The child should be asked if he or she has a feeling like absorbent cotton in the ear. Parents should make sure that the inspection of the affected ear does not reveal any discharge from the ear canal. An unpleasant smell can also occur in some diseases. Occasionally, earache can be accompanied by dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Taking a fever reading is part of the standard repertoire when examining the child at home, as many illnesses are accompanied by an increase in body temperature.
Therapy
The therapy of earache in children depends on the underlying disease. Home remedies can often help to alleviate the symptoms and it is by no means always necessary to take painkilling medication or antibiotics. However, a medical examination should be carried out before any self-therapy in order to rule out permanent damage to the child’s hearing.
In the case of tube ventilation disorder, the closure of the Eustachian tube caused by a cold, treatment of the cold using nasal sprays to reduce swelling of the mucous membranes is helpful. Ventilation and thus pressure equalization can thus be easily restored and symptoms alleviated. Decongestant nasal sprays also help with otitis media.
Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drugs such as paracetamol can supplement the therapy. As a rule, otitis media heals on its own after a few days, so that control by a doctor is justifiable after about 2-3 days. If there was no significant improvement at the control appointment or if the pain becomes more severe again over time, antibiotics should be administered to prevent complications.
Amoxicillin is also the drug of choice for children. If there is a penicillin allergy, azithromycin or clarithromycin are indicated. In the case of inflammation of the external auditory canal, otitis externa, antibiotics should not be avoided in order to avoid infestation of the auricle and the surrounding skin (auricular eczema).
After thorough cleaning of the auditory canal, ear drops containing antibiotics are usually administered. However, the use of ear drops is prohibited if the eardrum is damaged. Only in rare, particularly severe cases does the systemic administration of antibiotics become necessary.
If the child wakes up at night and cries or complains of earaches, sleep is usually out of the question. However, an immediate presentation to the pediatrician that same night is often not necessary. The introduction of pain-relieving medication can help to relieve the discomfort for the duration of the night.
In this case, ibuprofen or paracetamol can be used as a juice. The presentation to the pediatrician can then take place the next morning. Home remedies can help to shorten the course of diseases such as otitis media.
A proven method has long been the application of an onion sac. For this purpose, onions are crushed, infused with hot water, placed warm in a cotton bag (e.g.B. Tea towel) and placed on the affected ear.
The essential oils from the onions have an antibacterial effect and the heat promotes the healing process. A heat treatment in the form of an infrared lamp or a cherry pit sack can also have a supporting effect. The camomile tea steam bath is also said to have an antibacterial and thus healing effect.
For the treatment of earaches, homeopathy offers various preparations that promise relief. Aconitum napellus (blue wolfsbane), belladonna (deadly nightshade), chamomile and Pulsatilla pratensis (meadow cowbell) are often used in homeopathic dilution. It should be noted that blue monkshood and belladonna are highly toxic plants and their active ingredients should never be used undiluted.
Those who prefer naturopathic or homeopathic methods should therefore consult a physician well versed in these specialties. In case of complications or an unusually long or severe course of disease, a conventional medical clarification and treatment must be carried out urgently. As a matter of principle, earaches in children should always be clarified by a physician in order to discover causes requiring treatment in the early stages and to treat them if necessary.
In some cases, late damage can only be avoided by acting in time. The reliable differentiation of harmless and serious causes of earache in children is often not possible for the medical layperson and usually requires aids such as the ear microscope. If the ear pain is a well known and controllable problem, the doctor should nevertheless be consulted if the child is under three months of age and has a fever, if the symptoms do not recede significantly after 48 hours at the latest, or if there is a further increase in pain and reduction in general condition.
