Pain in the child's ear

Almost every child experienced pain in the ears at one time or another. Symptoms of various ear diseases seem to be the same. But they have the features and differences, and parents should know them.

For example, pain in the ears, which appears after or in connection with a cold, is usually caused by an infection of the middle ear. If the pain occurs when you touch the ear, tingling or discharge from the auricle is noted, then these pains are most likely caused by an infection of the outer ear. This diagnosis is especially likely if the child swims a lot.

Sometimes a child complains of toothache or pain in the jaw, although the underlying disease is associated with the inflammatory process in the ear.

In children who can not tell you about the nature or source of their discomfort, the ear pain signal can be expressed in excessive painful sensation or in constant grasping behind the ear. Children can cry, shake their heads or beat their hands on the head. On the other hand, the infant can simply pinch his ear without signs of discomfort, perhaps only because he first discovered his ears or so he reacts to the stimulation of the auditory canal with water or sulfur.

Possible causes of

One of the common causes of pain, especially of boys younger than three years old, is middle ear infection, otitis media( otitis media).With this disease, the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear with the throat, is blocked, and fluid accumulates behind the tympanic membrane. This can lead to infection.

Strong blowing can also cause pain in the ear, as the infected mass moves through the eustachian tube into the cavity behind the eardrum.

Another cause of pain is the "swimmer's ear" - an infection of the external ear canal that can be caught in the swimming pool. The ear canal can swell, become soft and red;there is a throbbing pain, a feeling of blockage of the ear.

Possible causes of pain in the ear may be a foreign body stuck in the ear, the effects of an impact in the ear and a tumor.

Ear pain can occur from temporary exposure to cold, lift, flight, cold, allergies, excessive chewing gum chewing, or gnashing of teeth in a dream.

It is necessary to strictly adhere to prescriptions of the doctor, accurately to give the child medicines, including antibiotics. They should be given to the child during a clear 10-day period, because skipping a single dose may delay recovery or cause the infection to return.

Again, under the supervision of a doctor, it is possible to give the child an acetaminophen and ear drops that will ease the pain. A child can feel better if you put a cold compress on your ear or neck, and sometimes - a towel with a warmer inside.

To prepare a warming compress in the ear, you must prepare warm water or diluted alcohol, camphor or sunflower oil in advance, a piece of cloth folded in several layers, waxed paper, cotton wool and a wide bandage. In paper, make a median incision according to the size of the child's ear. Wet the cloth in water, squeeze and attach to the skin around the ear. From above put waxed paper( also with a cut for the ear) and cotton so that each successive layer overlaps the previous one by 2-3 cm, and tightly fixed with bandage tours to the head. The compress is put on for 2-4 hours. At night it is undesirable to put it.

The doctor examines the appearance of the child's ear. Often inflammation, discharge and other signs confirm the diagnosis of an infection of the middle or outer ear, the presence of a foreign body, a scratch, a furuncle or an abscess. The doctor will turn the auricle in different directions to determine the presence of pain in the auditory canal. With the help of an otoscope, he will check the condition of the auditory canal and tympanic membrane.

In rare cases, when the examination does not show the cause of the disease, the doctor can offer a consultation with a dentist or an otolaryngologist.

Infection of the middle ear or other bacterial disease will require the appointment of antibiotics. In most cases, the infection can be cured in two weeks, but some children will need a second course of antibiotics to complete the treatment. Locally widely used drops, which are prescribed by a doctor. Before instillation of drops into the ear, the auditory canal must be cleaned. Drain the droplets to body temperature. Put the child on the opposite side of the patient's ear. To straighten the ear canal, pull the auricle with your left hand back and up and insert a few drops of the prescribed solution. The child should keep the accepted position for 10-20 minutes. If drops are prescribed in both ears, this manipulation is not recommended to be performed simultaneously. In about half the cases, the child will be cured within two weeks, but it will still continue to release fluid behind the tympanic membrane( serous otitis media).This fluid causes temporary weakening of hearing, but usually it takes one to three months.

If a child has three or more seizures of a middle ear infection, the doctor may prescribe a long course of treatment with a reduced dose antibiotic. This will help in the future to get rid of a relapse of inflammation. But if this treatment fails, you need to consult an otolaryngologist. He will probably insert the vent tubes into the eardrums to purge the middle ear and remove the pus.

It should be borne in mind that the "swimmer's ear" is associated with an infection of its outer part. The doctor or parents can cure this disease by cleaning the ear with alcohol or an acetic solution( rubbing alcohol or vinegar diluted with equal amounts of water).Use the device, usual for instillation into the eye( pipette).For more serious cases, ear drops may be required. They contain antibiotics and corticosteroids. They are used after the doctor cleans the child's ears.