Ear Infections and Children (2) - Treatment

If your child has a fever, ear pain, or shows other symptoms of an earinfection, it is important to see your PD. If your child's ears areinfected, your PD may prescribe an antibiotic. Be sure to follow yourPD's instructions closely. Make sure your child finishes the entirepreion. If you stop the medication too soon, some of the bacteria thatcaused the ear infection may still be present and cause an infection tostart all over again. As the infection starts to clear up, your childmight feel a popping in the ears. This is a normal sign of healing.Your child's ear pain and fever should go away within 2 days ofstarting the antibiotics. Children with ear infections do not need tostay home if they are feeling well, as long as a child care provider orsomeone at school can give them their medication properly.

Sometimes and ear infection does not go away even after your childtakes an antibiotic. If your child still has fever or ear pain for morethan 2 days, call your PD. Your PD may need to prescribe a differentantibiotic.

To help with pain, your PD may recommend an over-the-counter nonaspirinmedicine, such as acetaminophen. Do not give aspirin to your child; ithas been associated with Reye syndrome, a disease that affects theliver and brain. Your PD might also suggest putting warm, not hot,compresses against your child's ears to help relieve pain. (This is notrecommended for young babies.) If your child is old enough to chew gumwithout swallowing it, give him or her sugarless gum to chew. Keep yourchild sitting up as much as possible; this may help lessen pressure onthe middle ear and ease pain. An extra pillow at night may also help.(Never use pillows in a crib.) Avoid using over-the-counter coldmedicines as they do not help clear up ear infections.