Earache can have several causes. It’s a good idea to see your doctor if your child complains of a sore ear, or your baby shows signs of ear soreness.

Causes

The causes of earache include an ear infection, such as a middle ear infection or an external ear infection.

Children will sometimes put things in their ears, which can sometimes cause pain, as can an ear canal blockage because of a build-up of ear wax.

Less commonly, the cause of the earache might be a burst eardrum because of an accident, or because a cotton bud or something similar has been stuck too far into the ear.

Earache can also be pain referred to the ear from a nearby source – for example, during teething or tonsillitis.

Symptoms

Earache is usually on one side only and might go along with a runny nose, fever or vomiting. The pain can be quite severe.

A young baby with an earache might pull or rub the affected ear, might seem generally irritable and might be having trouble sleeping.

When to see your doctor

All children with an earache should be examined by their doctor.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of the earache, and should be discussed with your doctor. 

For things stuck in a child’s ear, the treatment will usually depend on what the thing is. If it’s something soft like a corn kernel, the doctor might use fine forceps or a spoon to remove the object. If it’s hard – for example, a plastic bead from a necklace – the doctor might use a special syringe to flush out the object that’s blocking the ear.

Traumatic eardrum perforations will usually heal spontaneously, but it’s still important that your doctor checks this in your child.

 
  • Last Updated 08-06-2011
  • Last Reviewed 15-03-2011

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