Causes of earache

Ear pain is mostly associated with infections of the external ear canal or with otitis media . However, there are other causes that can trigger earache in children:

• oropharyngeal pathologies causing reflected pain in the ears,
• trauma and barotrauma,
• tooth or gum disease ,
• problems related to the temporomandibular joint,
• exanthematous diseases,
• some allergies.
  

Earache prevention

The first of the remedies for earache in children is prevention :

• Avoid incorrect use of cotton buds , there are in fact risks for the eardrum , which can be seriously damaged, up to perforation; cotton swabs should only be used to gently clean the outermost part of the ears;
• External ear infections are favored by all conditions that increase the humidity of the ear canal or alter its physiological defense and self-cleaning mechanisms; it is therefore advisable to dry children’s ears well after bathing and shampooing and, in case they frequent swimming pools, evaluate the use of ear plugs;
• Otitis media in children is prevented, on the other hand, by trying to intervene, where possible, on risk factors : exposure to passive smoke, artificial breastfeeding, use of pacifiers, exposure to cold …