Ear problems in childhood require special attention. The organs of hearing in children are practically not protected from the influence of various external factors. If a child has an earache at night, what should I do? Such pain does not allow the baby to fall asleep, causes torment and anxiety. How to help a child if his ear hurts in the middle of the night, what to do to relieve pain?
Evening or night pain
If the baby complains about the ear, it is advisable to show it to the doctor. But what if the pain arose when there was no way to go to a medical facility, what should I do? Does your child have an earache at night or on a weekend? This is a very common case. So that long suffering does not negatively affect the psyche of the child, it is important to provide timely assistance to him. This will also prevent complications of the disease, so all parents should have an idea of \u200b\u200bwhat to do if a child has an earache in the middle of the night.
You can help your baby at home. Preferably notexperiment and consult with an otolaryngologist, who will tell you what to do. The child's ear hurt at night - this means that severe pain was taken by surprise. But you don’t need to endure until the morning: each parent can independently help the baby. The main thing is not to panic, even if you are far from civilization.
If the symptoms of ear diseases periodically appear and disappear, but there is no severe pain, in no case should you delay a visit to the doctor. The child must be shown to a specialist in order to prevent the aggravation of the pathology. At the same time, it is important that the otolaryngologist examine the child with the help of special instruments, assess the condition of the eardrum and make the correct diagnosis.
What could be the reasons?
First of all, it is necessary to find out what could provoke a disease in which the child's ear hurts at night. What to do? The baby cries non-stop, suffers from pain, and with him the parents are very worried. First you need to remember and analyze how his previous days went. What was he doing all this time, did he suffer a cold during this period? The reason why a child's ear hurts at night (you will learn what to do in this case from this article) may be:
- get foreign body, insect in the ear canal;
- bathing in cold, dirty water;
- injury to the auricle (blow, bruise, burn), rupture of the eardrum;
- accumulation of ear secretion and formation of cerumen;
- refusing to wear a hat in windy or frosty weatherweather.
Often, ear pain in children causes otitis media - an inflammatory process that occurs in the middle ear. Often the disease is a consequence of rhinopharyngitis - inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx. Sometimes external otitis media develops - as a result of inflammation of the external auditory canal due to a wound or boil. No less dangerous pathology is eustachitis (tubo-otitis). Untreated Eustachian tube inflammation can lead to hearing loss.
Viral infections, advanced colds, complicated by tonsillitis or sinusitis, can also cause a child's ear to hurt at night. What to do? Babies cry because of problems with their ears against the background of mumps or carious infection, pathology of the pharynx, lymph nodes. With severe neurological and cardiovascular diseases, ear pain can also occur.
If a child has an earache at night, parents should provide first aid only after finding out the factors that provoked the ailment. It is also necessary to pay attention to accompanying symptoms - this will help to more accurately determine the cause of the pain and alleviate the child's condition before the doctor arrives.
Additional features
So, the child has an earache. What can be done urgently, what medicines to take? You can really help your child at home. If he complains of pain in the ears, parents need to carefully monitor his condition and carefully examine the auditory shell. Sometimes a banal examination helps to find the true causewithout medical help.
If the child feels pain when pressing on a small cartilage at the outer protrusion in front of the auricle, then the problem really lies in the hearing organs. If no reaction followed, most likely, everything is in order with the ears, and the pain itself radiates from another source (sinus sinus, tooth, facial nerve).
High body temperature is a direct confirmation of the inflammatory process in the body. With otitis, eustachitis, it can rise to subfebrile values, but sometimes it is very high - more than 38.5 ° C. Under normal temperatures, the cause of ear pain is most likely external factors or problems with blood pressure.
Purulent and fetid discharge from the ear canal indicates otitis media of an infectious nature. In this case, antibiotics cannot be dispensed with, but a doctor should prescribe them. If the outer shell is swollen, swollen, has become reddish or bluish, most likely the child has hurt his ear. An insect bite also manifests itself, to which many children have an allergic reaction. With a fungal infection of the ear canal, there is constant itching.
First Aid
Parents who find themselves in this situation for the first time usually do not know what to do. The child has an earache at night, he constantly cries hysterically, is naughty, refuses to eat and cannot sleep - how can he be helped before the doctor arrives? At home, there are not many available and effective treatment options, but their use helps to really alleviate well-being with painfulearaches.
Next, we will talk about the first aid that must be provided, even if parents are not able to determine for themselves what provokes earache and do not know what to do. The child's ear hurts at night, and in order to reduce his suffering, symptomatic therapy can be carried out and a thorough examination of the auricle can be carried out. If a foreign body is found in the ear canal, you can try to remove it yourself, but you need to act very carefully. The child's head is tilted to the side where the affected ear is located. Do not use tweezers, cotton buds, because there is a risk of pushing a foreign object even further.
If there is no visible damage and no other symptoms other than a dull pain in the ear, doctors recommend measuring blood pressure. With some diseases of the vessels, heart, kidneys, even at an early age, jumps in blood pressure can be observed in children. In this case, the child is given drugs, the intake of which was previously agreed with the doctor.
In the presence of severe inflammation, it is undesirable to take any active actions. Before the doctor arrives, the baby can be given an antipyretic that is appropriate for his age (Panadol, Nurofen, Ibufen, Efferalgan, Paracetamol). These drugs not only bring down the temperature, but also have an analgesic effect.
What absolutely cannot be done
A child's ear hurts at night - what to do? According to reviews, many independently prescribetreatment for the baby, but no doctor recommends doing this. Incompetent actions of parents can lead to serious complications. The thing is that one of the causes of pain in the ear may be perforation or damage to the eardrum. Any liquid, especially alcohol, can exacerbate the problem and lead to permanent hearing loss. Therefore, for those parents who are in a hurry to drip various medicines into the child's ears, but do not know the cause of the pain, otolaryngologists strongly recommend that they refrain from self-treatment and take no action without doctors.
You can’t bury a child’s ears with antibacterial drugs on your own, since you can choose an effective antibiotic only after conducting a laboratory test and determining the infectious agent. Otherwise, the treatment will not bring any result, and the course of the disease will worsen in the meantime. Also, in no case should you penetrate the sore ear with tweezers or a cotton swab, since these tools are not designed for cleaning. One careless move can damage your ear canal.
Why otitis often develops in children
The reason for the prevalence of this otolaryngological disease lies in the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the ear. Children's hearing organs are different from the ears of adults. At an early age, the auditory cartilage, which is called the Eustachian tube, extends directly into the nasopharynx due to its short length. When, with colds, a child developsrunny nose, mucus can easily flow into the auditory tube, resulting in otitis media, in which the child has an earache. What can be done urgently to relieve the pain? If the diagnosis is confirmed, otitis media cannot be treated without a doctor's prescription. In no case should you warm the sore ear on your own, apply warm compresses.
The best prevention of otitis is the prevention of colds. For this, it is necessary to constantly carry out measures to strengthen the immune system. If a runny nose in a child lasts more than a week, it must be shown to an ENT doctor. Timely treatment of the common cold is the best measure to prevent otitis media in children.
Some experts recommend dripping vasoconstrictor drops into the nose if a child's ear hurts at night. First aid of such a plan should be provided even if he does not have any rhinitis. Such drops will narrow the blood vessels, as a result of which the pressure in the ear canal will decrease and the pain will subside.
What medicines can be given at home
If a child's ear hurts at night and is gone in the morning, this does not mean that you need to refuse a visit to the doctor. In any case, the baby needs to be shown to a specialist. If the child has an earache at night, most likely there is otitis media, which cannot be ignored. This disease does not allow the child to sleep normally, hear and live fully.
When the diagnosis is confirmed, the otolaryngologist will draw up a treatment plan and tell you what to do at home. Does the child have an earache again? Doctors recommend several ways to treat otitis media:
- Compress withalcohol. To put a compress, first take gauze soaked in alcohol, fold it in several layers and make a cutout for the ear. Then they put cellophane and a warm scarf on top of the gauze, with which they completely wrap their heads like a hat. At high temperatures, do not make alcohol compresses.
- Boric acid solution. Soak a cotton swab in the liquid and place it in the ear.
- Drops from otitis that were used earlier. "Otipax", "Otinum" and other drugs that are always prescribed for children with otitis media can be used if they have already been prescribed for the baby.
In case of colds and viral diseases, against which otitis has developed, it is necessary to give the child to drink more fluids. It is important that parents do not panic, act calmly and be patient. If a child has an earache in the middle of the night, he can act up, cry, scream. It is not necessary to raise your voice to the child, it is important to remain calm and balanced with him. It is advisable not to leave him alone and try to distract from the pain.
Antibiotic ear drops
After visiting a doctor who will determine the reason why the child had an earache in the middle of the night, other medications can be used. The specialist will select individual therapy depending on the age, type and severity of the patient's disease. If an ear disease often recurs in a baby, many doctors advise using not only medical methods of treatment, but also using folk remedies. A competent combination of pharmacy and homemedication is the best way how to help at home. The child has an earache - you can get rid of this problem once and for all.
To speed up the healing process and prevent the inflammatory process in the future, the ENT doctor selects an antibiotic for the child in the form of drops for the ears. The most popular and effective are:
- "Dancil";
- Uniflox;
- Sofradex;
- "Tsipromed";
- Garazon;
- Otofa;
- Anauran.
Some of these drugs have not only antimicrobial properties, but can also have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. In addition to drops, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics in tablets, syrup, or injections, depending on the age of the child. The course of antibiotic therapy usually does not exceed 7-10 days. Refusal of treatment can lead to the fact that a bacterial infection will spread through the bloodstream and get to the meninges, which threatens the development of meningitis, an abscess.
Otipax and analogues
These anti-inflammatory drops are considered the most popular among the drugs in this group. Most parents have this drug in their home medicine cabinet. Many people cannot even imagine what to do if there is no Otipax. Does your child have an earache? This is a common problem, but it can be solved with the help of this drug, which includes phenazone and lidocaine. The first component relieves inflammation and enhances the effect of the anesthetic - lidocaine, which blocks the movement of nerve impulses and eliminates pain. "Otipax" is able to stop pain onseveral hours, but because this medicinal solution contains alcohol, it should not be used for perforation of the eardrum resulting from injury or infection.
In case of individual intolerance to the components of the drug, you can not use it. "Otipax" is prescribed for otitis media for pain relief and inflammation. Its structural analogues, that is, preparations containing the same components, are Otirelax, Oticain, Droplex, Ototon. Drops such as Otizol, Furotalgin have a similar therapeutic effect. In addition to this drug, doctors may prescribe:
- "Remo-Vax" - a tool for softening sulfuric plug;
- washing the ear canal with a fungal infection with hydrogen peroxide;
- Vishnevsky's ointment.
Boric alcohol: can they drip into the ears of a child?
Some experts advise using boric acid if you can't see a doctor. Treatment in the "field" conditions will facilitate the well-being of the child. Boric alcohol is sold in every pharmacy. The cost of one bottle of 3% acid is an average of 10-20 rubles. The medicine is dispensed in a pharmacy without a prescription. To apply an ear treatment, you must first warm it up to room temperature, soak a thin cotton turunda in it and place it in the sore ear for a couple of hours.
However, there are many opponents of this method of treatment. Some otolaryngologists openly opposeuse of this drug, considering it toxic. At the same time, boric acid is an excellent antiseptic and warming agent that will not cause harm if used correctly.
The main contraindication for the use of boric alcohol in childhood is perforation of the tympanic membrane, which is evidenced by the release of purulent or mucous contents from the ear canal. Doctors recommend carefully examining the baby's ear. If there is no discharge from the ear, 3% boric alcohol can be used. It must be heated to 25-30 ° C, then moisten a cotton swab in it and put it in the ear. Boric acid helps with otitis, the accumulation of earwax, providing a disinfectant effect.
Use of folk recipes, reviews
In some situations, when it is completely impossible to get to the pharmacy and buy the necessary drugs, the only option remains - folk remedies. If a child has an earache, what to do at home without medicine? Judging by the reviews, the following means are considered the most common:
- Almond or pine nut oil. It should be slightly warmed up to a temperature not exceeding 36 ° C and dripped into the sore ear three times a day.
- Infusion of medicinal chamomile flowers. 1 st. l. pour a glass of boiling water and leave until it cools down. Wash the sore ear with strained infusion twice a day. This tool can be used even in the presence of purulent discharge against the background of otitis media and other inflammations.
- Vaselineoil and hydrogen peroxide are mixed in equal amounts and used to painlessly remove the sulfur plug.
- Beet-honey healing compress. Boil a small piece of beets in a glass of water (boil for 5-6 minutes). As soon as the broth has cooled, add a little honey, stir thoroughly. Soak a gauze bandage in the resulting broth and apply to the sore ear. The compress is completely safe (in the absence of allergic reactions to the components in its composition), it can be used for any diseases of the hearing organs.
- Infusion of fresh lemon balm. To prepare the medicine, you will need a small bunch of plants and two cups of boiling water. Cover the lemon balm with a lid and leave to infuse. Ready infusion is considered when it cools down. Be sure to strain before use. Use a cotton pad to wash the child's sore ear in the morning and evening. Also, a weak infusion of lemon balm can be given to drink instead of tea by adding a spoonful of sugar.
If a child has an earache, how to help at home? Propolis tincture with honey is a truly universal folk remedy that helps with various ailments, including infectious and inflammatory processes of the inner ear. To prepare the medicine, it is necessary to mix honey and alcohol tincture of propolis, taken in equal parts. Before applying the medicine, it should be slightly warmed up in a water bath. Use one drop in the affected ear three times a day.
Folk remedies, as well as pharmaceutical preparations, should be given to a child only as directed by a doctor. The use of any medication shouldbe careful and observe the reaction of the child's body. Otherwise, you can get serious complications in the form of deafness, pathologies of the eardrum.
How to properly bury a child's ears
Drops should be warm, that is, be the same temperature as the body. Usually, to heat up a vial of medicine, it is enough to hold it in your hands or warm it under running hot water.
The process of instillation of the ears is desirable to carry out in the supine position on the side. In children over the age of two years, when instilled, you need to slightly pull the shell back and up, in infants - back and down. The number of drops depends on the dosage indicated in the instructions. After the instillation procedure, you need to make sure that the child lies in the supine position and does not get up for at least five minutes.
Regardless of whether the child complains about only one ear or two at once, you need to drip into both ears. Especially when it comes to fungal and viral infections. It is important to adhere to the dosage prescribed by the doctor. Otherwise, the child may be harmed.
Foreign body in ear
Sometimes children get insects in their ears. Small midges or flies do not carry any deadly threat to the hearing organs, they are not capable of damaging the eardrum. At the same time, insects can be carriers of various infections. Their presence in the ear canal can cause severe discomfort, pain and dizziness, as they irritate the eardrum with their movements.and vestibular apparatus.
No need to try to deal with this problem at home. You can put warm walnut oil in the child's ear and immediately go to the doctor, who will remove the insect. Similarly, you need to act if a foreign body has fallen, an injury has occurred or a suspicion of an ear injury has occurred. If it is not possible to get an appointment with a doctor in the near future, do not hesitate - call an ambulance.
Doctors often have to remove various objects from children's ears - small balls, dragee candies, pieces of cotton, stationery eraser, etc. Parents may not be aware that a child has a foreign body in his ear. The only complaint that worried parents make is hearing loss.
Conclusion
So, if a child suddenly has an earache, you must definitely show it to the doctor. It is problematic to do this at night, but some remedies can be used to alleviate well-being and relieve pain. It is important to make sure that there are no contraindications to their use. In pharmacies today you can buy various medicines to relieve pain and inflammation, but they can be used systematically in childhood only as directed by an otolaryngologist.
Parents should be more attentive to the complaints of their children, not to ignore them. At the first symptoms, you need to go to the clinic and be examined by a doctor. An important role in the prevention of childhood ear diseases is played by the state of immunity and compliance with elementary safety rules.
