Question
A 8-year-old boy, in elementary school, has been complaining of ear pain for the past few days. Upon inspection, it was noticed that there is some thick, yellow earwax and a buzzing sound in the ear. He also has a slight fever. How can one effectively treat an earache in children with otitis media?
Answer
Generally speaking, if it’s pediatric otitis media, it’s effective to give the child some symptomatic antibiotics. While taking medication, some local treatments can also be performed, such as using anti-inflammatory ear drops. If the symptoms are mainly ear pain, consider giving some painkillers. If the child has a fever, parents can give the child some antipyretic medication or take them to the hospital immediately. In cases of recurrent acute severe episodes or if there is a perforation of the eardrum, timely surgical treatment should be performed. During treatment, it’s also important to arrange for a light diet for the child, enhance nutritional supplementation, and help them recover as soon as possible.