The pain of an otitis can occur in one ear or both, can last a long time or even be short-lived; you may experience a sharp, dull pain, or even a burning or itching sensation. Ear infection, especially in the middle ear, is a common cause of this type of suffering, especially in children. If you or your child has got otitis, there are some remedies to relieve the discomfort.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Home Remedies
Step 1. Apply a warm compress
It can help relieve pain. Wet a clean towel in warm water and place it over your ear. replace it often, every 15 to 20 minutes or as needed.
You can also use a hot water bottle or a heated salt bag
Step 2. Try an olive oil treatment
This is an excellent home remedy for relieving the infection; heat 15 ml, making sure it's not too hot: you don't have to burn your ear! Use a dropper such as medication and pour three or four drops of the oil into the sore ear. repeat three or four times a day. Alternatively, you can dip a piece of cotton wool in the oil and put it in your ear; also this remedy can be repeated 3 or 4 times a day.
Always heat the oil until it reaches body temperature; you can test it by pouring a few drops on your wrist. Be very careful when handling it, because if it is too hot, it can cause serious damage to the inner ear. The best way to raise the temperature is to pour it into a dropper and immerse it in about 2-3 cm of hot water
Step 3. Use herbal oils
Some can act as natural antibiotics and have antiviral properties. Mullein is commonly used to treat earache and is known for its antibacterial and soothing properties; you can buy it online and in herbalists. Even a few drops of calendula oil instilled directly into the ear canal can soothe the discomfort.
Talk to your doctor before using any herbal remedies on children
Step 4. Try garlic
Its oil has an antiviral and antibacterial action and has been used for centuries to treat ear infections. You can make a solution yourself by heating a teaspoon of chopped or chopped fresh garlic with 15 ml of olive oil. Leave to infuse for 15 minutes and strain it through a fine mesh sieve. You can mix the filtered oil with an equal amount of olive oil or use it pure; pour three or four drops into the diseased ear three or four times a day.
- You can also take some wedges and wrap them in a cloth or paper towel and place the latter on your ear like a bag; you can secure it in place by tying it with something around your head, like a piece of cloth. Make sure the material you put the garlic in allows the juices to penetrate without putting the clove in direct contact with the skin.
- If you want to use this remedy on a baby, ask your pediatrician for confirmation first.
Step 5. Use ginger
This plant is also useful for pain relief. Chop or shred a teaspoon of fresh root and mix it with 15 ml of olive oil; leave it to infuse for 15 minutes and filter it through a sieve. Put three or four drops in each aching ear three or four times a day.
Even then, you must have permission from your pediatrician before administering this remedy to a child
Step 6. Make an onion wrap
Cut an onion in half and heat it a little with olive oil; when it becomes soft, let it cool and put it in a cotton cloth. Fold the fabric so that the onion does not fall out and place the compress over the aching ear, letting the hot juice enter the cavity; hold it in place for 10 to 15 minutes and repeat every three to four hours.
Step 7. Use honey
It has antibacterial and healing properties; it is therefore perfect for relieving the pain caused by otitis as well. Warm some and put three or four drops in the infected ear, making sure it is not too hot, so as not to burn the ear canal. repeat the procedure three to four times a day.
Method 2 of 3: Other Methods
Step 1. Take over-the-counter medications
There are a few different types of medications that can soothe the discomfort, such as ear drops, or you can take pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tachipirina) and ibuprofen (Brufen).
Do not give aspirin to children under the age of two or to adolescents who have just recovered from the flu or chickenpox, as it can lead to Reye's syndrome, a life-threatening disease that causes brain and liver edema; this risk increases considerably if the child or young person has just had a viral disease
Step 2. Take prescription medications
Most adults with otitis media usually heal within a week by being treated only with home remedies; however, in the worst cases the doctor may prescribe antibiotics. These drugs are only given in very severe cases and not for any type of infection; if the pain is quite severe, she may recommend ear drops or other products.
- Sick infants less than six months old should be given antibiotics immediately; do not attempt home remedies on children who have an ear infection.
- Amoxicillin is the antibiotic that is most often prescribed in these cases. Your doctor may recommend a dosage of 500 mg every 12 hours or 250 mg every eight hours if you have a mild or moderate infection. In severe cases (in the presence of fever) the dosage is 875 mg every 12 hours or 500 mg every 8.
- If the infection does not go away with this treatment, if the pain is very severe and / or other symptoms occur, such as high fever, you may also be prescribed the combination of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid.
- If you are allergic to penicillin, he may recommend cefdinir, cefpodoxime, cefuroxime, or ceftriaxone.
- There are some bacteria that can be responsible for the infection, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella; if this is your case, antibiotics can eradicate them; however, if you see that the problem does not improve within 48-72 hours of starting therapy, you should contact your doctor.
Step 3. Buy oily products
There are several commercial oils that you can find in health food stores or even online. If you don't want to prepare some solutions yourself, contact your local dealer or search the web.
- Follow the instructions on the package carefully for how to use it.
- If your child has ear infections, do not try to cure him with home remedies; when the infection affects young patients there are greater risks of serious complications, such as hearing loss, facial paralysis, brain abscess and meningitis. If you see that he has an earache, take him to the pediatrician right away.
Method 3 of 3: Recognizing Otitis Pain
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of the infection
An adult or a child who is already quite old can understand if it is otitis, but not a newborn or small child; you must therefore be the one to pay attention to the symptoms. Among the main ones related to otitis consider:
- Some babies pull or tug on their ears;
- Pain, especially when lying down
- Irritability, crying and tantrums;
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of hearing
- Fever of 37.7 ° C or higher;
- Lack of appetite;
- Ear secretions
- Dizziness or a feeling that the room is spinning
- Warmth, redness, or pain around the ear
- Swelling or itching.
Step 2. Pay attention to the risk of getting the infection
Otitis is not transmitted by other people, but it can develop under certain circumstances; be especially vigilant if you or your child find themselves in the following situations:
- Allergies, colds or sinusitis;
- Cold climate;
- Change in altitude or climate;
- Using the pacifier, drinking from an educational cup or bottle in a lying position;
- Exposure to smoke;
- Family history of ear infections.
Step 3. Contact your doctor
Most ear infections can be treated at home; however, some cases can be serious and professional intervention is required. Call your doctor if you have the following symptoms:
- Fever of 37.7 ° C or higher;
- Strong pain;
- Severe pain that suddenly stops; this could indicate a ruptured eardrum;
- Discharge of secretions from the ear
- Some new symptoms, such as dizziness, headache, sweating, or weakness of the facial muscles
- The pain lasts more than 24 hours;
- Changes in hearing abilities.
