Baby or Child Earache

The most common type of earache in young children is when the middle ear (known as the otitis media) becomes inflamed. If it’s not treated it can turn into a condition called ‘glue ear’. This is where the middle ear fills with sticky fluid and your child finds it hard to hear.

What causes it?

Earache is normally caused by a viral (or sometimes bacterial) infection which may cause a temporary reduction in hearing. In extreme cases there are other causes for hearing loss in children, including genetic problems, problems from birth or head injury. If you’re worried about your child’s hearing, please speak to your doctor.

At what age do children get earache?

The most common type of earache, otitis media, tends to develop in children up to the age of eight. In fact, it’s thought that about 20% of children under the age of four have at least one ear infection a year. So what should you be looking out for?

The main symptoms of otitis media are:

• Pain and fever
• Irritability
• Pointing or pulling at an ear
• Hearing loss
• Discharge from the ear (this usually means the ear drum has burst, and can be a welcome relief)

What should you do if you suspect earache?

Earache is very distressing for your child. So, to help soothe their pain, try a painkiller such as Nurofen for Children. It targets the source of discomfort and helps ease pain quickly. What’s more, if your child is running a temperature, it can help bring down a fever.

Remember to contact your doctor. They may prescribe antibiotics. And if your child has a serious case of glue ear, she might eventually need to go to hospital to have the fluid drained away.