Earache is often caused by an ear infection. It's not usually serious and should get better in a few days.
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.
Common causes of earache include ear infections, a build-up of earwax in your ear and fluid in your ear (glue ear).
Read more on the NHS website.
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.
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.
Read more on the NHS website.
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.
Self-care
There are some things you can do to help relieve earache and ear pain.
Do
- use painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (children under 16 should not take aspirin)
- place a warm or cold flannel on the ear
Don't
- 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
Medical treatments
A pharmacist might be able to 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
Read more on the NHS website.
Common causes of earache include ear infections, a build-up of earwax in your ear and fluid in your ear (glue ear).
Read more on the NHS website.