There are some other issues that may cause an earache. Teething may push the alignment of developing mouths and cause Eustachian tube blockages. Foreign objects in the ear can cause pain, or an excessive amount of ear wax may cause problems. A doctor’s examination can pinpoint the issue.
Diagnosis and Treatment
A doctor typically will use an otoscope, a flashlight-like medical device, to peer into the inner ear to see if the eardrum is red and infected.
Doctors usually recommend pain management using warm compresses and over-the-counter pain medications like Tylenol, ibuprofen and aspirin. They may also provide a prescription for ear drops that can be warmed and then inserted into the ear to help speed healing and ease pain. Because most ear infections eventually clear up without much outside interference, doctors tend to avoid antibiotics in treatment. They do this to avoid resistance and because antibiotics have their own side effects. They also realize that antibiotics won’t help infections caused by viruses and that pain relief from their use is rather minimal.
However, children who have multiple ear infections may need to use antibiotics to ward off future infections. This is particularly true if the child has a cleft palate, Down syndrome or an immune system disorder, all of which contribute to persistent and recurring ear infections.
Prevention
While most children eventually outgrow the ear infection stage, there are some steps you can take to minimize exposure to risk factors. It’s suggested infants be breastfed for six months or more after birth as a way to minimize the chance of ear infections. If the baby must be bottle fed, prop up the child rather than lying him or her flat with the bottle pointed down. This will help drainage issues.