Correctly assess earache

The reason for earache is often simply that there is a ventilation disorder in the ear due to a cold. The eardrum is pulled inwards, causing pain. The first measures you can take at any time are to apply decongestant nose drops and/or put an onion compress on your ear. A painkiller can also be given, because - as everyone knows from experience - earache hurts like a sack.

If the child is doing well apart from the cold symptoms and the earache, there is no need to worry too much.

The situation is different if the little patient is very unwell, has a high temperature or if there is swelling and redness behind the auricle. Then the inflammation spreads to the so-called mastoid cells - which must be treated urgently.

In all other cases, there is no need to rush to treat earaches as they almost always heal well on their own.

It is also important to note that earache is almost always caused by viruses, which is why it is often not advisable to administer antibiotics. Even if purulent fluid runs out of the ear, antibiotic treatment is not necessarily necessary. Exception: In children under one year of age, it is advisable to have this clinical picture looked at closely and treated if necessary.

There are two other possible reasons for pain in the ear:

Inflammation of the ear canal. This often occurs in summer and is caused by bathing. It can be diagnosed by a doctor looking into the ear.

Too much earwax. It is not uncommon for so much earwax to build up in a child's ear that it hurts. In most cases, the child also has the feeling that it is hard to hear. This can also be recognised by looking in the ear. The good news is that the problem is quickly solved by rinsing with a kind of water spray gun.