Ear pain in a baby can be noticed through some signs and symptoms, such as the fact that the baby often puts his hand on his ear, shakes his head to the side repeatedly, increased irritability and frequent crying, for example.
This situation is quite uncomfortable and can happen as a result of ear infections, water entering the ear, the presence of objects in the ear canal or increased pressure in the ear, which is common when traveling by plane.
Depending on the cause, a baby’s earache may go away without treatment. However, if the pain is persistent and other symptoms such as fever and ear discharge are noticed, it is important that the pediatrician is consulted, as this is the case. It is possible for an assessment to be carried out, the cause identified and treatment initiated, if necessary, which may involve the use of anti-inflammatory medicines, analgesics and antibiotics, in the case of bacterial infection.
Baby ear problem symptoms
Earache in babies can be perceived through some signs and symptoms that the baby may present, which may vary from baby to baby according to the cause, the main ones being:
- Irritability;
- Want;
- Lack of appetite;
- Fever that does not exceed 38.5ºC, in some cases;
- Difficulty breastfeeding and the baby may even reject the breast;
- Placing your hand on your ear often;
- Difficulty resting the head on one side;
- Shake your head from side to side often.
Furthermore, if the ear pain is caused by perforation of the eardrum, there may also be a bad smell in the ear and pus, which in some cases can cause momentary hearing loss, but if not properly treated it can become permanent.
Main causes
The main cause of ear pain in babies is otitis, which corresponds to inflammation of the ear canal due to the presence of viruses or bacteria in the ear, or due to the entry of water into the ear, which also favors inflammation and causes ear pain. heard in the baby.
In addition to otitis, other situations that can cause ear pain in babies are the presence of objects in the ear, increased pressure in the ear due to plane travel and other infectious diseases such as flu, mumps, measles, pneumonia and viruses, for example. Check out other causes of ear pain and what to do.
Remedies for earache in babies
Remedies for earache in babies should be prescribed by the pediatrician according to the signs and symptoms presented by the baby and the cause of the pain. Thus, some of the remedies that may be recommended by the doctor are:
- Analgesics and antipyreticssuch as Dipirona or Paracetamol, to relieve pain and fever;
- Anti-inflammatoriessuch as Ibuprofen, to relieve inflammation and pain;
- Antibioticssuch as Amoxicillin or Cefuroxime, should only be used when the infection is caused by bacteria.
It is important that medicines are only given to the baby after a pediatrician’s recommendation, so that the most appropriate medicine is indicated, the frequency of use and the dose, avoiding adverse effects.
Home Treatment Options
A complementary home remedy for ear pain in a baby is to iron a cloth diaper and place it close to the baby’s ear after it is warm. It is necessary to pay attention to the temperature of the diaper to avoid burning the baby.
Furthermore, throughout the treatment, it is important to offer plenty of liquids and soft foods, such as soups, purees, yogurts and mashed fruits to the baby. This care is important, as earache is often related to a sore throat and the baby may feel pain when swallowing. The less irritation there is in the throat, the better he will feed and the faster he will recover.
