Earaches can be a very painful and frustrating annoyance for both children and adults. While there are many catalysts for ear infections and the discomfort they cause, there are also a number of available strategies to alleviate the pain and get rid of the infections.
Causes for ear pain include a wax blockage in your ear — known as impacted ear wax — which can cause a great deal of pain. You can try to get rid of the blockage at home by placing baby oil or hydrogen peroxide in your ear to soften the hardened wax, but the best idea is to see your primary care physician who can get rid of the wax with no damage. Changes in air pressure from flying on an airplane or riding on an elevator can also cause ear difficulties. Getting water trapped in your middle ear can also be problematic, along with retracted ear drums and auditory tube dysfunction caused by chronic allergies in adults. Toothaches and sore throats may also be associated with earaches.
Fortunately, most of the time a little rest and care at home is all that’s needed for an ear infection to go away for children under 2 years old. Pain relievers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines like Advil, Motrin and Aleve and acetaminophen like Tylenol will help a child feel better. Be careful not to give aspirin to someone younger than 20, which could cause Reye Syndrome, a very serious illness.
Applying heat to the ear with a warm washcloth could also help with the pain. Using ear drops is also an effective way to treat ear discomfort, but don’t apply them without first contacting a physician.
Ear infections are common in children and adults. In fact, ear infections in children are the second most common illness right behind colds.
As with any infection, it’s easy to assume that once diagnosed by a physician, a prescription for an antibiotic (amoxicillin) is a given, but that’s not always the case these days because the bacteria that causes ear infections are becoming immune to antibiotics.
When ear difficulties become a regular occurrence, physicians often insert synthetic ear tubes through the eardrums that allow air into the middle ear and let fluid drain out. While this happens much more often with children, tubes are sometimes the best remedy for adults as well.
Children are much more likely to eventually receive tubes because their auditory tube is narrower and set at a more horizontal angle than adults, which makes it more difficult to get consistent air flow and for fluid to drain from the ears.
Tubes have proven to be an effective way to improve hearing and reduce infections. Children require a general anesthesia for the procedure to insert ear tubes. The surgery takes about 15 minutes and the child goes home that day. Post-procedure discomfort and complications are rare, but on occasion a fever, excessive bleeding or ear drainage may occur with a foul odor and unusual color. The tubes usually fall out around six months after they were inserted.
Adults who receive ear tubes may have them implanted without an anesthetic because they are more capable of staying still during the procedure. Adult ear tubes are often installed in a doctor’s office instead of a surgical setting.
If you have concerns or questions about ear discomfort or are in need of a primary care physician for yourself or someone else, please call 317-880-8687 or visit www.eskenazihealth.edu/doctors.
Dr. Nydia Nunez-Estrada
Family Medicine Physician at Eskenazi Health