You can also press a warm bottle or warm bag of salt over the ear.
Always warm the oils to about body temperature. You can test the temperature by dropping a bit of the oil on your wrist. Be very careful about warming the oil because it can cause serious damage to the inner ear if it is too hot. The best way to warm oils is to pour some into a dropper bottle and let the dropper bottle stand in an inch or so of heated water until it is warm.
Make sure to talk to your doctor before using any herbal remedies on children.
You can also slice some garlic and put the garlic pieces in a cloth or paper towel. Place the garlic pouch on the ear. You can secure it by tying around your head with something, like a piece of cloth. Make sure whatever you put the garlic in allows the garlic to seep into the ear, but keeping it from directly touching the skin. [6] X Research source Make sure to talk to your pediatrician before using garlic in your child’s ear.
Speak with your doctor before using ginger to help your child’s ear infection.
If you think you have an ear infection, you should talk to your doctor before trying OTC medications and home remedies. [11] X Expert Source Payam Daneshrad, MDBoard Certified Otolaryngologist Expert Interview. 30 September 2020. Do not use aspirin in children under the age of 2 years or in any child or teenager after the flu or the chicken pox. [12] X Research source Giving aspirin to a child or teenager can lead to Reye’s syndrome, which is a potentially fatal disease that causes the brain and liver to swell. The risk of a child or teen developing Reye’s syndrome is even higher after the child or teen has had chicken pox or the flu. [13] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
For children younger than six months of age with an ear infection, antibiotics should be given immediately. Do not try to use home remedies for an ear infection on a child. Amoxicillin is the most commonly prescribed drug for ear infections. [15] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source Your doctor may recommend taking 500 mg every 12 hours or 250 mg every 8 hours for a mild to moderate infection. For a severe infection (patients with fever) your doctor may prescribe 875 mg every 12 hours or 500 mg every 8 hours. Your doctor may also prescribe amoxicillin-clavulanate if your infection does not respond to amoxicillin or if you have severe ear pain and/or other symptoms, such as a high temperature. [16] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source If you are allergic to penicillin, then your doctor may prescribe cefdinir, cefpodoxime, cefuroxime, or ceftriaxone instead. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis are bacteria that may be to blame for your ear infection. Taking antibiotics should attack the bacteria. However, if your infection does not seem to improve within 48 to 72 hours after starting antibiotics, then call your doctor.
Make sure to follow the directions for use. If your child has an ear infection, do not try to treat it yourself. Ear infections in young children are more likely to lead to serious complications, such as hearing loss, facial paralysis, brain abscess, and meningitis. [17] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Take your child to see a doctor right away if he or she is having ear pain.
Tugging or pulling at the ear (this may be the only sign in some infants) Ear pain, especially when lying down Irritability, crying, and fussiness Difficulty sleeping Hearing loss Fever of 100oF or higher Loss of appetite Drainage from the ear Dizziness or a feeling that the room is spinning Warmth, redness, or pain around the ear Swelling or itching
Allergies, colds, or sinus infections Cold climates Changes in altitude or climate Pacifier or sippy cup use, or drinking a bottle while lying down Exposure to smoke Family history of ear infections
Fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher Severe pain Severe pain that suddenly stops. This may indicate a ruptured eardrum. Drainage from the ear Any new symptoms, such as dizziness, headache, swelling, or weakness in the facial muscles If the ear pain lasts more than 24 hours Change in hearing ability
