Yes, it could be more than just be a simple case of earwax!
Earache is considered a fairly common condition especially in children. If your child shows signs of pain while chewing, hearing difficulty, ear popping or fullness, ear tugging, or restlessness, it’s possible that he or she is suffering from an earache.
What Causes Earache?
There are several known reasons why this happens, some of which include ear infections, colds, earwax buildup, an obstruction, ear damage, and fluid buildup. Among the ones mentioned, the most common known cause would be that of an ear infection.
According to a resource published by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, five out of six children are likely to suffer from an ear infection by the time they reach the age of three.
If your child is experiencing it right now, you might be wondering about the different ways on how you can get this treated.
You are actually given two options – conventional medicine and the natural way.
Treatment Of Earache With Conventional Medicine
A simple ear infection often clears up on its own. But as a parent, it’s only natural that you would seek professional help to make the problem go away as soon as possible.
If you choose to consult with a conventional medical practitioner, chances are, your child will be given some sort of painkiller to dull the pain. This could include medicines such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, or aspirin. Other doctors on the other hand are likely to prescribe antibiotics.
OTC medicines such as eardrops can also be purchased from your local pharmacy. But for this, make sure that you ask the advice of the pharmacist and mention all your child’s symptoms.
Now, for those of you who would rather get this treated the natural way, there are several ways by which you can get this done.
Natural Ways To Treat An Earache
1. Hot/Cold Compress
The first one would be with the use of a cold or hot compress. The concept in here is similar to that of applying this remedy to aching muscles – the compress helps ease the pain. Some people respond better to cold compress compared to that of a hot compress (or vice versa), so for this, you will need to see which works better for your child.
2. Olive Oil
Another folk remedy that could work is olive oil. Pouring a bit of warm olive oil in the ear benefits earache sufferers a number of ways. This helps prevent earwax buildup, soothes the pain, and contains polyphenols that protect the ear from damage and infection.
3. Home Remedies
Some people also swear by home remedies such as garlic, onions, peppermint, neem, and basil.
Chiropractic Approach To Treating An Earache
And then there’s also the chiropractic approach, considered a safe alternative since it does not use invasive therapeutic interventions. To treat an earache, chiropractors use techniques that help stimulate the movements of the upper part of the neck.
There are little muscles in the upper part of the neck that are attached to the ear. When there are distortions or tensions in the muscles or bones in these areas, it’s possible for fluids to accumulate inside the ear.
Chiropractors can adjust the ears using manual therapy, facilitating the flow of accumulated fluid from the ear, into the back of the throat, naturally ridding this of potential threats such as bacteria or foreign particles.
Personal Touch Matters Too
Adults have trouble dealing with a simple headache or fever. Just imagine how your child is feeling when he or she is ill. If your child has an earache, parents, it’s time to take away their attention from the pain.
Keep your cool if your child cries. Get creative in distracting him or her from the pain instead.
After all, an earache lasts only for a little while.
