Earache (Ear Canal Infection)- Home Suggestions
When your child has an ear canal infection or Swimmers Ear:
If your child has a fever, please see the fever tool.
1. Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) or Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others) for pain. See page 99 for more details about pain medication. See page 6 for acetaminophen and ibuprofen dosage. Do not use ASA (Aspirin and others) in anyone under 20 years of age (see page 99 for an explanation).
2. Your child can be made more comfortable by putting a warm cloth on the ear for 20 minutes several times daily.
3. Sometimes putting warm drops of mineral oil, cooking oil or olive oil in the ear canal may give some relief. You can buy Auralgan drops or simply use mineral oil, cooking oil or olive oil. Heat the oil in warm water. Do not boil the water. Make sure you test the temperature of the oil drops on your skin before placing it in your childs ear.
4. If you are breast feeding, do not stop, but try to nurse so the child is in an upright position. If necessary, feed smaller amounts more often.
5. Do not expose your child to cigarette smoke.
6. Read about Fever, Cough and Colds, and Sore Throat if necessary.
7. Keep the childs ear dry for at least 7 days. Avoid swimming or water play that involves getting water in the ears. A few drops of a drying agent will help the ear dry faster. A mixture of 1 tablespoon of vinegar in 1 tablespoon of warm water makes a good drying agent.
8. This is an infection which may improve with the non-prescription antibiotic drop (Polysporin). Use 2 drops 4 times daily.
9. DO NOT TRY TO CLEAN THE EAR OUT OR PUT OBJECTS, SUCH AS COTTON SWABS, INTO THE EAR.
10. If your child gets infections of the ear canal over and over again you may want to try and prevent these before symptoms appear. Placing a couple of drops of cooking, olive or mineral oil in the canal before swimming or placing a couple of drops of antibiotic solution (Polysporin) in the canal after a day of swimming may help to prevent repeat infections.
Is there still pain or fever after 12 to 24 hours of this therapy?
