Many children will have temporary and minor hearing loss during or right after an ear infection. Permanent hearing loss is rare, but the risk increases with the number of infections.
Common Causes
The eustachian tube runs from the middle part of each ear to the back of the throat. This tube drains fluid that is normally made in the middle ear. If the eustachian tube becomes blocked, fluid can build up. This may lead to pressure behind the eardrum or an ear infection.
Ear pain in adults is less likely to be from an ear infection. What you think is ear pain may actually be coming from another location, such as your temporomandibular joint, teeth, throat, or other location. This is called "referred" pain.
Ear pain in a child or infant may be due to infection, or the following causes:
Ear canal irritation from cotton-tipped swabs
Soap or shampoo staying in the ear
Home Care
The following steps may help an earache:
A cold pack or cold wet wash cloth applied to the outer ear for 20 minutes may reduce pain.
For children old enough to safely chew gum, chewing may help relieve the pain and pressure of an ear infection.
If a child is uncomfortable lying down, resting in an upright position can help reduce pressure in the middle ear.
Over-the-counter ear drops are gentle and effective, as long as the eardrum has not ruptured.
Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can provide relief for children and adults with an earache. (Do NOT give aspirin to children.)
You can relieve ear pain caused by rapidly descending from high altitudes by swallowing or chewing gum. Allowing infants to suck on a bottle or breastfeed while the plane is descending can help.
Call your health care provider if
Call your doctor if:
Your child has a high fever or severe pain or seems sicker than is usual for an ear infection
New symptoms appear, especially:
Dizziness
Severe headache
Swelling around the ear
Weakness of the face muscles
Severe pain suddenly stops; this may be a sign of a ruptured eardrum
Symptoms (pain, fever, or irritability) get worse or do not improve within 24 - 48 hours
What to expect at your health care provider's office
The doctor will do a physical examination, and examine the ear, nose, and throat areas.
Pain, tenderness, or redness of the mastoid bone behind the ear on the skull is often a sign of a serious infection.
Prevention
The following steps can help prevent earaches:
Avoid smoking near children. Smoking has been shown to cause millions of ear infections each year in children.
Prevent outer ear infections by not putting objects in the ear, and drying the ear after bathing or swimming.
Take steps to control allergies. In particular, avoid allergy triggers. Steroid nasal spray may help reduce ear infections. However, over-the-counter sedating antihistamines and decongestants do NOT prevent ear infections.
Ely JW, Hansen MR, Clark EC. Diagnosis of ear pain. Am Fam Physician. 2008;77(5):621-628.
American Academy of Pediatrics Subcommittee on Management of Acute Otitis Media. Diagnosis and management of acute otitis media. Pediatrics. 2004;113(5):1451-1465.
Coker TR, Chan LS, Newberry SJ, Limbos MA, Suttorp MJ, Shekelle PG, et al. Diagnosis, microbial epidemiology, and antibiotic treatment of acute otitis mediain children: a systematic review. JAMA. 2010 Nov 17;304(19):2161-9.
Review Date:
5/16/2012
Reviewed By:
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
