Ear aches can be painful, especially for children. Although one may feel it originating from inside the ear, its actual source can be from the inside or along the structured areas which share similar nerves going towards the brain. This is regarded as “referred pain.”



When there is pain inside the ear, it is usually due to an infection. In children, the most common of all ear infections is Acute Otitis Media or the middle ear infection. Next would be the Otitis Externa or the ear canal infection. It is very painful for children and even adults.

Another cause of an ear ache is when there is a blockage on the Eustachian tube, preventing pressure inside the middle ear from balancing with outer pressure. The Eustachian tube is the tube connecting the back part of the nose onto the middle ear. This type of pressure is similar to the ones felt during undersea diving and airplane flights. You can blow on the nose of swallow to relieve such pains.

For ear pains that originate from the outer ear, this may be due to tumors or infections along the throat and nose areas. If there is an ear ache with no apparent ear disorder, it is a standard procedure of doctors to check the sinuses, nose and gums, along with the teeth, tongue and jaw points. They will also check the throat, tonsils and windpipe, as well as the voice box, salivary glands inside the cheeks and the esophagus.

An acute ear infection can clear up in a matter of 1 up to 2 weeks. There are instances when an ear infection becomes chronic and will last longer. After the infection, the fluid usually stays inside the middle ear. This can lead to other infections and even hearing loss.

Common symptoms of acute ear infections include pain and sometimes fever. For very young children, you will just notice them crying and pulling at their ears. The child will also seem listless or irritable. They will find it difficult to eat or sleep.

Treatment of ear infections depends on the root cause of the infection. If the infection is mainly due to the onset of bacteria, antibiotics will be prescribed. For the pain, Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen can be given even to children. Examples of Ibuprofen include Children's Motrin and Children's Advil. Examples of Acetaminophen include Infant's Tylenol or Children's Tylenol. On no account should you give Aspirin to a child. There have been reports linking it to the Reye's syndrome.

Another pain treatment for an ear ache is to apply a warm heating pad onto the aching ear. You can also apply some ear drops, although you would need a prescription for it. Children are more prone to ear infections because their Eustachian tubes are narrower and shorter than the adults'. Children ages of 1 to 3 years old are more susceptible.

Children have a higher risk of ear infection if they are exposed to people that smoke, have ear infections in their family history, attend a day care facility and if they had ear infections previously. Aside from this, if children are prematurely born or if they have a low birth weight and use bottles in bed, they are also prone to ear infections.

Other high risk causes of ear infections in children include allergies (nasal congestion), frequent colds or if they use pacifiers or possess nasal speech. Boys are more prone to ear infections than girls.

To prevent these ear infections from afflicting your children again, especially if your child had at least 3 in just a span of 6 months, the doctor will suggest that your child take a low dosage of antibiotics every day. This is especially needed during the winter season when infections more often occur.