Symptom Definition

• Pain or discomfort in or around the ear.
  
• Child reports an earache.
  
• Younger child acts like he did with previous ear infection (e.g., crying or fussy).
  

Cause

• Usually due to an ear infection.
  

See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If  

• Ear congestion but no pain, see EAR CONGESTION.
  
• Due to airplane or mountain travel, see EAR CONGESTION
  
• Ear discomfort follows lots of swimming, see EAR, SWIMMER'S.
  (To go directly to these topics, click on the links following this document.)  
  

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR EARACHE (EAR PAIN)

Call 911 Now

(your child may need an ambulance)

• Not moving or very weak
  

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• Your child looks or acts very sick.
  
• Earache is severe.
  
• Pink or red swelling behind the ear.
  
• Stiff neck (can't touch chin to chest).
  
• Fever above 104°F (40°C).  
  
• Pointed object was inserted into the ear canal (e.g., a pencil, stick or wire).
  

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9am and 4pm) If:

• All other earaches, but none of the symptoms described above (probably ear infection).
  

HOME CARE ADVICE

FOR SUSPECTED EAR INFECTION (until your child can be seen)
1.  Reassurance:  Your child may have an ear infection, but it doesn't sound serious.  Diagnosis and treatment can safely wait until morning if the earache begins after 5 pm.

2.  Pain Medicine:  Give acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain relief or for fever above 102°F (39°C).

3.  Local Cold:  Apply a cold pack or a cold wet wash cloth to the outer ear for 20 minutes to reduce pain while the pain medicine takes effect.  (Note: Some children prefer local heat for 20 minutes.)

4.  Avoid Earplugs:  If pus or cloudy fluid is draining from the ear canal, the eardrum has ruptured from an ear infection.  Wipe the pus away as it appears.  Avoid plugging with cotton (reason: retained pus causes irritation or infection of the ear canal).

5.  Eardrops:  Prescription eardrops or olive oil drops for pain aren't safe if your child has ear tubes or a hole in the eardrum.  Therefore don't use eardrops unless your doctor recommends them.

6.  Contagiousness:  Ear infections are not contagious.

7.  Call Your Doctor If:

• Your child develops severe pain.  
  
• Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor"  symptoms.
  

See Other Topics:

• Ear Congestion
• Ear, Swimmer's
View Alphabetical Categories List







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Lucile Packard Children's Hospital is located in Palo Alto, adjacent to Stanford University Hospital, approximately 20 miles north of San Jose, CA and 40 miles south of San Francisco.




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(650) 497-8000





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