DESCRIPTION

CAUSE

A temporary earache can occur for 10 to 15 minutes after your child plays outside in cold weather. When your child comes inside, the cold air inside the middle ear warms up, expands, and causes some pain. Chewing gum or drinking fluids should help stop the earache. Another cause of temporary pain in front of the ear is sore jaw muscles from vigorous chewing.

If your child is doing lots of swimming and it hurts him when you move the earlobe up and down, he may have swimmers's ear.

HOME CARE: THE RELIEF OF PAIN

• An earache is not an emergency. Until you see the physician, give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain. These medications usually control the pain within 1 to 2 hours. You may also put an ice bag or ice in a wet washcloth over the painful ear for 20 minutes (Caution: Longer than 20 minutes could cause frostbite.)
• Do not use any eardrops unless your physician recommends them.
• If pus or other fluid is draining from the ear, wipe it away as it appears.
• Don't plug the canal with cotton.

CALL YOUR CHILD'S PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY IF:

• The pain is severe and not relieved by pain medicine.
• Your child's neck is stiff.
• Your child is acting very sick.

CALL YOUR CHILD'S PHYSICIAN WITHIN 24 HOURS ABOUT: