Experiences with

Earache

Spotting earache in babies and young children

A young child might have earache if they:

  • rub or pull their ear
  • do not react to some sounds
  • have a temperature of 38C or above
  • are irritable or restless
  • are off their food
  • keep losing their balance

Earache and ear pain can affect 1 or both ears.

How to treat earache yourself

There are some things you can do to help relieve earache and ear pain.

  • use painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (children under 16 should not take aspirin)

  • place a warm or cold flannel on the ear

  • do not put anything inside your ear, such as cotton buds

  • do not try to remove earwax

  • do not let water get inside your ear

Some painkillers are not safe for everyone (for example, if you're pregnant). Always check the leaflet or get medical advice before taking them.

A pharmacist can tell you:

  • what you can do to treat earache yourself
  • if you can buy anything to help (for example, eardrops)
  • if you need to see a GP

They can also provide treatment if you need it, without you seeing a GP.

  • have earache for more than 3 days
  • keep getting earache

You or your child have earache and:

  • become generally unwell
  • a very high temperature or feel hot and shivery
  • swelling around the ear
  • fluid coming from the ear
  • hearing loss or a change in hearing
  • something stuck in the ear
  • your child is under 2 and has earache in both ears

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online .

What causes earache and pain

Earache and pain can be caused by many things, but sometimes it's not known by what.

Here are some of the most common causes:

CausesSymptomsSelf-care

Common causes of earache include ear infections, a build-up of earwax in your ear and fluid in your ear (glue ear).

If you have earache, you may also have other symptoms, like a high temperature or hearing loss. Earache can be harder to spot in young children.

Taking painkillers and placing a warm or cold flannel on your ear can help ease earache. You can also get treatments like eardrops from a pharmacy.

Related links

Earache

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274 public posts

Tocilizumab and earache

For the last week I’ve had earache and it really is sore but reacts well to painkillers. GP has had a look and my ear is clear of infection or wax and has given me a nasal steroid to try as my nose is a little blocked and could be the route to my ear issue.
Lorraine2460 profile image
Lorraine2460
in NRAS

Jaw pain and slightly swollen cheek

Hi does anyone get jaw pain I also get earache and a slight swelling to my face, I’ve had my teeth checked and it’s not that, I’ve had bloods taken and a scan which showed nothing, I’m awaiting a max facial appointment but the waiting list is so long. Any help would be much appreciated x
Mires profile image

Help with air conditioning and dry mouth

My sister is going on a coach trip and the coach has air conditioning, she is struggling with a dry nose and mouth with Sjogrens also she has earache with it. She wonders if anyone on here has any tips on how to cope on the journey to relieve the symptoms please?
greenfingers profile image
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Perculiar symptom (earache)

Every month I will get an earache with sinus pain across my cheek prior to my period. Ive noticed it for a number of years and only recently put 2 and 2 together, but I also haven't asked a GP as they are nowhere near anatomically connected and don't want to sound like a fool!
Kirsty360 profile image

GCA and Earache

And the ‘just in case’ scenario has just happened. 3 weeks ago I had earache in my right ear, waited a few days for it to go away on its own, but it didn’t and I developed a fever.
kalgoorlie profile image
kalgoorlie
in PMRGCAuk

Middle ear infection and antibiotics

Just as an aside my ears are always very sensitive in the winter months and cause earache. I have had them checked with GP and there is a middle ear infection , he has prescribed penicillin. I asked for antibiotic drops but he said they wouldn't help with middle ear problems.
Helliborous profile image

New to here

It's constant buzzing sound with clicking noises and now earache.
Butbuts profile image
Butbuts
in Tinnitus UK

xgeva

I have still got some tooth pain and earache. Actually two weeks ago I had a biopsy of something suspicious at the base of tongue which showed up on pet scan and then MRI. It involved general anaesthetic and my throat is still quite sore.
Trish profile image

medication and infection

I have a sinus infection/sore throat/earache/headache etc which is uncomfortable but not bad enough to seek intervention from GP. Was wondering what to do with regards above medication. Do I change anything, increase steroids, not take Tocilizumab/Methotrexate?
Noni71 profile image
Noni71
in PMRGCAuk

Trigeminal Neuralgia pain

For me this means constant facial pain (migraine earache and toothache all at the same time ) I am told this is a very rare health condition . Are there any other members on the forum that have this condition ?
moyramm profile image
moyramm
in Pain Concern

Hi Do i have Sjogrens?

I had salivary glands swelling up, earache in both ears. Went down to see a nurse at health centre, couldn't get to see a gp! I thought i might have a stone in the glands? Was a waste of time really, she told me i had a virus?
fizzy42 profile image

Hearing Loss

After many weeks of antibiotic ear drops the infection cleared slightly but I still had earache and significant hearing loss and still had a small hole in my ear drum which has not healed.
Pebblegod profile image
Pebblegod
in PMRGCAuk

GCA confirmed after Ear pain

I had the biopsy on monday, just 3.5 weeks after initially going to the GP with earache.
kalgoorlie profile image
kalgoorlie
in PMRGCAuk

Actemra and Extremely Fast Taper off of Prednisone

didn't expect the following during my last appointment with my Rheumatologist: I told her that some symptoms were resurfacing after having reduced from 20mg for 2 weeks to 17.5mg, for 2 weeks (due to go down to 15mg. 2 days after appt), slight pressure in left temple and newly developed persistent earache
newsusy profile image
newsusy
in PMRGCAuk

Headache and earache

While it has no medical evidence to prove they re caused by tinnitus But since after i got tinnitus and then got both And is it true even if u ignore the sound there are still excessice stimulatation in the brain with the sound
vincentchan profile image

struggling 6 weeks after diagnosis

phone update with GP early December suggested I taper to 12.5 which I did on 11th dec About 4 days after started to feel fatigued and headaches now constant , 20th December shoulder pain , feeling of facial pain more like sinus pain earache/tooth pain (no jaw pain) fatigue worse Struggles on with
Emilydarby profile image
Emilydarby
in PMRGCAuk

Could this be PMR.?

Even a headache and earache I know I must keep going at all cost so I walk but very slowly and not very far I wonder if this could be PMR . I’d be so grateful for any thoughts Hopefully, Jane-S
Jane-s profile image
Jane-s
in PMRGCAuk

I'm trying....

The discomfort I have daily is all on the left side - every now and then I get a right earache but the daily pain / headache / earache / neck pain is all left side.
hollyrain profile image

All over the place

Last week I had a really severe left sided earache and since boy oh boy the PT is with me all the time, it sounds like the thud thud of a distant concert, plus my ears feel really congested. The screech is louder than ever, it feels like my head will pop.
hollyrain profile image

Ear Problems??

is fluid build up behind the eardrums leading earache and some deafness. Doctors have prescribed a spray followed by antibiotics if required. Is this something others have come across in their journey?
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