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Earache

Overview

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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).

Earache and ear pain is common, particularly in young children. It can be painful, but is not usually a sign of anything serious.

Page last reviewed: 29/04/2022
Next review due: 29/04/2025