What Causes Earache in Children?

Otorhinolaryngology Specialist Op.Dr.İbrahim Akın gave important information about the subject. One of the most common problems in children starting from the newborn period is ear pain (Otalgia).

While children older than 2 years of age can tell their parents that they have ear pain, younger children may have different reflections such as scratching their ears, crying at night, restlessness, loss of appetite, wanting to lie on their ear, not touching their ears, vomiting. The most common cause of earache in children is upper respiratory tract infections. Middle ear infections (suppurative otitis media) are more common in children because the Eustachian tube, which provides middle ear ventilation and pressure regulation, is not fully developed. In addition, problems such as external ear infections, foreign body in the ear, teething, tooth decay are the main factors that cause ear pain in children.

HOW SHOULD THE TREATMENT APPROACH TO A CHILD WITH EAR PAIN?

First of all, one of the most common mistakes we see is that families use ear drops and antibiotics unnecessarily for their children without consulting an otolaryngologist. Parents should be aware that unnecessary or misused ear drops may increase the child's ear infection or cause worse pictures such as ear fungus. Sometimes there are families who want to spend the process using only painkillers. This will provide temporary relief for the child, but may cause problems such as aggravation of the picture and perforation in the eardrum. In summary, since the treatment of ear pain is for the cause, an otolaryngologist should definitely be consulted, especially families with children under 2 years old, in case of unrelated complaints such as vomiting, restlessness, loss of appetite. should keep in mind that the underlying cause may be related to the ear.