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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffYou can also get some relief from ear infections at home. You can try:
- Over-the-counter medications. If your child is uncomfortable, ask the doctor about using an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Use the correct dose for your child's age and weight. Don't give aspirin to anyone younger than age 16, due to the risk of Reye's syndrome — a rare but serious condition. Giving over-the-counter cough or cold medications is also not recommended for children age 2 and younger.
- A warm compress. It also may help to place a warm, moist cloth over the affected ear.
- Distractions. When caring for your child, plan some low-key activities, such as reading books aloud or playing board games. And don't underestimate the benefits of some extra cuddling.
- Home monitoring. If your child has repeated middle ear infections, you might consider getting a monitor, such as EarCheck, to check if your child has fluid in his or her ears. To use these monitors, you place the probe of the monitor in your child's outer ear canal. The monitor will make several chirping sounds that will reflect off the membranes inside your child's ear. Based on the reading, you can figure out if the fluid level in your child's ears is cause for a visit to the doctor.
