Earache

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

How long earache lasts

It depends on what's causing it. Most earaches in children are caused by an ear infection, which usually start to improve after a few days.

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.

There are some things you can do to help relieve earache and ear pain.

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

See a GP if you or your child:

• have earache for more than 3 days
• keep getting earache

Earache and pain can be caused by many things, but sometimes it's not known by what.

Here are some of the most common causes:

Symptoms	Possible condition
Ear pain with toothache	Children teething, dental abscess
Ear pain with change in hearing	Glue ear, earwax build-up, an object stuck in the ear (do not try to remove it yourself – see a GP), perforated eardrum (particularly after a loud noise or accident)
Ear pain with pain when swallowing	Sore throat, tonsillitis, quinsy (a complication of tonsillitis)
Ear pain with a fever	Ear infection, flu, cold