What Every Parent Should Know About Ear Pain
Crying, fussy babies and whiny children who seem extra clumsy may all have one thing in common – they could be suffering from ear pain. When your little one is miserable and looks or acts sick, it is often so hard for parents to know what is wrong. At Medco ER & Urgent Care of Plano, TX, we’re experts on children’s ear pain issues and we can take the guesswork out of parenting.
“Ear infections are so prevalent in babies and children. It’s something every parent will encounter at one time or another,” said Medco ER & Urgent Care’s Medical Director, Dr. Nasir Khan. “It’s hard to know what to do when your baby is extra fussy, but we’re always available to take a look to make sure it’s not an infection.”
Common Causes for Ear Pain1
- Bacteria from a cold, virus, sore throat or upper respiratory infection
- Blocked Eustachian tubes
- Fluid behind ear drum
- Build-up of wax
- Trauma to ear
- Foreign object in the ear
- Swimmer’s ear
- Secondhand smoke
- Propped up baby bottle
- Teething
Symptoms of an Ear Infection
The first thing you may notice is your baby is frequently tugging or touching his ear. If he is grabbing his ear and crying, an ear condition might be causing his discomfort. Laying your baby down may make the pain worse, so she might cry when you put her down. You may notice discharge from the ear – clear fluid, wax buildup, yellow fluid or even blood. If the ear is infected, your child may run a fever. Your baby may be extra fussy and crying a lot. She may react to loud sounds or she might not react to quiet conversation. His balance may be off. These are all indicators that something is not right with the ear canal.
Treatment for Ear Infections
“You can try ibuprofen or acetaminophen at home to relieve the ear pain,” said Dr. Khan. “Be sure to follow the correct dosage. Also, the baby may experience some relief if you apply a warm compress – but not too hot – to the ear. But after a day, it’s time to bring your child in to Medco ER & Urgent Care so we can look inside the ear canal.”
Many ear infections will resolve without antibiotics. Antibiotics won’t help infections caused by viruses, but they will help with bacterial infections. Your physician will want to know if the child had been experiencing a sore throat or cold prior to the ear pain. A careful diagnosis will determine if antibiotics will help your child.
Chronic ear infections may need to be treated with the insertion of tubes to aid in drainage. Your child’s pediatrician can discuss this option with you if ear infections and ear pain are recurring.
When should I bring my child to Medco ER & Urgent Care?
If your child has been experiencing ear pain for a day or longer, it is time to come to Medco ER & Urgent Care where you will be seen by a board-certified physician almost immediately upon arrival. We’re open all day and night, every day of the year so you can get the care your child needs right away.
Our physicians are experienced in pediatrics and are good with children. Our fun pediatric exam room features a space theme and interesting things to do to keep our youngest patients relaxed and happy. We work hard to make sure your little one starts to feel better again.
- Plano location:
3960 Legacy Drive, Plano TX 75023 (on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road)
Call us @ 469-392-40001https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/ear-infections-children
Pediatric Ear, Nose & Throat Conditions We Treat
When your child’s sore throat gets worse, when ear pain flares up, when sinuses become congested, or when something happens to get stuck in the throat, it is time to visit Medco ER & Urgent Care. For ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions that affect infants, children and adolescents, different procedures are used than for adults. That’s why we have an expansive pediatric care available—so we can provide the specialized treatment that is right for each patient.
“Babies and children have common ENT concerns, and often they are quite urgent,” said Medco ER & Urgent Care’s Regional Medical Director, Dr. Tariq Vora. “Our board-certified physicians with pediatric expertise treat everything from ear infections to foreign bodies stuck in the throat, ear or nose. Whatever the problem may be, we can diagnose and treat it, or refer to a specialist, if necessary.”
Common Pediatric ENT Conditions
We commonly treat babies, children and teens for conditions such as:
- Ear infections
- Hearing loss
- Sinus infections
- Allergies
- Reflux or difficulty swallowing
- Tonsillitis
- Nosebleeds
- Foreign object in ear, nose or throat
- Ruptured eardrum
- Difficulty breathing
- Swimmer’s ear
- Laryngitis
Specialized Pediatric Care
We have exam rooms that are designed with our youngest patients in mind. Colorful murals help put them at ease. When appropriate, juice and simple snacks are available.
Most importantly, our facilities feature dedicated pediatric equipment so we have the right size equipment for each infant, child or adolescent that comes to us for quality healthcare. Our in-house lab is equipped with rapid strep and flu test that can reduce the time waiting and help to provide timely treatment. We also have various imaging modalities such as ultrasound, MRI and X-rays.
When our facility was designed, it was built to accommodate people of all ages with a special emphasis on pediatrics. We care about our youngest patients and give them the highest level of care possible.
When ENT Conditions Become an Emergency
When your baby or child is having difficulty breathing, is choking, has a fever, shows signs of ear pain, has a foreign object stuck in a passageway, or shows signs of distress, head over to the emergency room immediately.
“We’re open 24/7 every day of the year to make sure we’re ready to receive your child any time there is a medical concern,” said Dr. Vora. “Any time you feel something is not right with your baby or child, don’t hesitate to come in. We can do a fast evaluation and, if it turns out to be minor, we can give you a recommendation of what to do next to save you time and money.”
Fast Help at Medco ER & Urgent Care
When your baby, child or teen is having ear, nose or throat concerns, the board-certified physicians at Medco ER & Urgent Care are here to help find a solution to any medical needs. Our trained staff is experienced in helping little ones feel relaxed and comfortable while we provide excellent pediatric care.
- Plano: 3960 Legacy Drive on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road.
Call us @ 469-392-4000