Ear
Ache Remedies: Your Ear Ache Remedy Will Depend on the Type
of Infection
Your
child’s ear is throbbing, he feels feverish, and you’re
not quite sure what to do. When your child has an ear ache,
the pain can be intense and incapacitating. You’ll
do just about anything to find an effective and safe ear
ache remedy.
Ear
ache is a general term for two very common, yet different,
conditions in both children and adults. Whenever someone
has an ear ache, it is likely caused by: (1) an outer ear
infection, or (2) a middle
ear infection. Since these are two distinct ailments,
there is a rather long list of ear ache remedies available.
The ear ache remedy you choose must be appropriate for the
type of ear infection you are trying to resolve.
An
outer ear infection would include a skin infection of the
outer ear, or an infection of the outer ear canal. An outer
ear infection is also known as “swimmer’s ear”
because it is normally caused by trapped moisture in the
ear canal. Swimming, bathing, and humid weather cause bacteria
to grow and multiply easily in the ear canal, leading to
an ear ache. An outer ear infection also may happen because
of a minor injury to the skin of the ear canal, allowing
bacteria to penetrate the skin and begin an infection. As
an ear ache remedy for outer ear infection, some people
suggest homemade eardrops made from ½ rubbing alcohol,
¼ white vinegar, and ¼ distilled water. The
best ear ache remedy for an outer ear infection, however,
is often preventive measures. Ways to prevent an outer ear
infection include drying the ear carefully after swimming
or bathing, wearing earplugs while swimming, and being very
careful when cleaning the outer ear. Cleaning the ear with
a cotton swab, fingers, or any other object is potentially
harmful and could cause an injury-induced ear ache.
For
an ear ache caused by a middle ear infection, the ear ache
remedy options are more plentiful. First, to help children
prevent a middle ear infection, parents should keep children
away from secondhand cigarette smoke, allergens, and infectious
germs like cold viruses. Once an adult or child has an ear
ache from a middle ear infection, the first ear ache remedy
usually focuses on relieving pain. Over-the-counter pain
medications are often used to treat ear
infection symptoms, but it’s very important not
to give aspirin to anyone under the age of 20, as this has
been linked to Reye’s Syndrome.
Another
ear ache remedy is to apply heat, such as a heating pad
or warm washcloth, to the ear. Rest is also an important
ear ache remedy. Conversely, it has been found that decongestants,
antihistamines, and cold remedies do not work as an ear
ache remedy.
When
faced with an ear ache, many people ask, “Should we
use antibiotics as an ear ache remedy?” This is a
difficult question to answer. More than 80 percent of ear
infections get better without antibiotics, and antibiotics
do not always reduce pain and fever. If it is found that
you do need to use antibiotics as an ear ache remedy, keep
in mind that antibiotics will upset the balance of healthy
organisms in the digestive tract of both children and adults.
Växa ReFlora+ is an excellent way to replenish your
body’s “good” bacteria and thus boost
your immune system.
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