Ear Pain

Home Care and how to prevent Ear Pain

• 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, can help relieve pain and pressure of an ear infection.
• If the child is uncomfortable lying down, resting in an upright position can help reduce the pressure in the middle ear.
• The counter ear drops are gentle and effective, provided that is not perforated eardrum.
• The counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may provide relief for ear pain in adults and children. (Do NOT give aspirin-aspirin - children).

Ear pain caused by rapidly descending from high altitudes can be relieved by swallowing or chewing gum. Allowing infants to suck on a bottle while the plane is descending can help.

The following steps may help prevent earaches:

• Avoid smoking near children. It has been shown that smoking causes millions of ear infections in children each year.
• Prevent external ear infections Avoid pushing objects into the body and drying after bathing or swimming.
• Take steps to control allergies. In particular, avoid allergy triggers. Steroid nasal spray may help reduce ear infections. However, antihistamines and decongestants sold over the counter do NOT prevent ear infections.
• Always blow your nose gently, both sides at once with his mouth open.
• If the mother breastfeeds her baby will be less likely that this has ear infections. If you feed the baby a bottle, it should be kept as straight as possible.