Ear pain in a child is usually a middle ear infection, often after a cold. In adults, it often comes from the jaw, teeth or throat instead. Many ear infections clear on their own. Urgent Care Center of Westmont in Westmont, IL can look in your ear and find the cause.
Ear infections are much more common in children, and nearly 5 of every 6 children have one before age 3.
In adults, ear pain often comes from the jaw, teeth or throat rather than the ear itself.
Many middle ear infections clear up without antibiotics, so a clinician may suggest watching for 2 to 3 days.
Tugging at an ear alone is not a reliable sign of an ear infection in babies.
Do not use ear drops if the eardrum might be torn, such as when fluid is draining from the ear.
What usually causes ear pain?
Ear pain can be sharp, dull or burning, and it can come and go. MedlinePlus lists the causes below. They are ordered roughly from most to least common, though the order differs for children and adults.
Common causes of ear pain
Cause
Who gets it
Clues
Middle ear infection (otitis media)
Most common in young children
Pain after a cold, fever, fussiness, trouble sleeping
Fluid or pressure behind the eardrum
All ages
Fullness, muffled hearing, often with a cold, allergies or a flight
Swimmer's ear (outer ear infection)
All ages, often after swimming
Pain and itching in the ear canal after water gets in
Pain from somewhere else (referred pain)
Common in adults
Toothache, sore throat, pain when chewing or a clicking jaw
Earwax buildup
All ages
Plugged feeling and muffled hearing
Something stuck in the ear
Mostly young children
A bead, bug or bit of cotton in the canal
Irritation from cotton swabs, soap or shampoo
Common in children
Itchy or sore canal after bathing
How to tell the causes of ear pain apart
The pattern of pain, and what came before it, are useful clues. Use them to decide what to do next.
Ear pain clues
If you notice...
It often points to
Ear pain a few days into a cold, with fever or fussiness
Middle ear infection
Pain and itching in the canal after swimming or showers
Swimmer's ear
Pain when chewing, a clicking jaw or a toothache
The jaw joint (TMJ) or teeth
A plugged ear and muffled hearing without much pain
Earwax or fluid behind the eardrum
Ear pain together with a sore throat
The throat, felt in the ear
Pain as a plane comes down
Pressure change
Severe pain that suddenly stops, then fluid drains
These comfort steps come from MedlinePlus and the CDC.
Hold a cold pack or cold, wet washcloth on the outer ear for 20 minutes.
Sit upright instead of lying flat.
Chewing gum can ease pressure. Give gum to young children only with care, since it is a choking risk.
Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen as the label directs. For babies under 6 months, use only acetaminophen. Never give aspirin to children.
Use over-the-counter ear drops only if the eardrum is not torn. If fluid is draining, skip drops until a clinician looks.
Do not put cotton swabs or other objects in the ear, and do not try to dig out something that is stuck.
On flights, swallow or chew gum as the plane descends. Let babies nurse or suck on a bottle.
How long to wait: the CDC says the body can often clear a middle ear infection on its own, so a clinician may suggest watching for 2 to 3 days. If pain, fever or fussiness is getting worse, or not improving within 24 to 48 hours, have the ear checked.
When should you go to urgent care for ear pain?
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Urgent care is a good fit for most ear pain. Come in if any of these are true:
A fever of 102.2°F (39°C) or higher with ear pain
Pus, discharge or fluid coming from the ear
Pain that lasts more than 2 to 3 days, or keeps getting worse
Severe pain, or severe pain that suddenly stops
Any hearing loss, or new dizziness
A child under 2 with ear pain and fever
Something stuck in the ear
Ear pain after swimming that is getting worse
If any warning sign listed at the bottom of this page applies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room instead of urgent care.
What happens at your ear pain visit in Westmont, IL
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Urgent Care Center of Westmont, also known as Immediate Care Center of Westmont, treats ear pain for children and adults 7 days a week. Our team is led by board-certified physicians.
QuestionsWhen the pain started, recent colds, swimming, flights, fever, drainage and any hearing changes.
Ear examYour clinician looks in the ear canal and at the eardrum with an otoscope, a lighted scope, and checks for fluid or pus behind the eardrum. We also check the nose, throat, jaw and neck.
Clearing the viewIf wax blocks the eardrum, ear wax removal may help. If something is stuck, we may be able to take it out with foreign body removal.
Your treatment planFor a mild middle ear infection, the plan may be pain relief and watchful waiting for 2 to 3 days. For a more severe or lasting ear infection, treatment may include prescription medicine when appropriate. If the pain comes from your teeth or jaw, we explain who to follow up with.
Many insurance plans are accepted, and self-pay visits start from $125.
Ear pain in kids vs. adults
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Children
The American Academy of Pediatrics explains that children's eustachian tubes, which drain the middle ear, are shorter, narrower and flatter than adults'. That makes it easier for fluid to collect. About 80% of childhood ear infections clear up without medicine. Antibiotics may be considered if a child is under 2, has severe pain or fever, or has symptoms that last several days or get worse.
Look for ear pain that is worse at night, trouble hearing, fever, drainage, fussiness and poor sleep.
Tugging at the ear alone is not reliable. Babies often do it to soothe themselves.
Dose pain medicine by your child's weight, and ask a clinician if you are unsure.
Adults
MedlinePlus notes that ear pain in adults is less likely to be an ear infection. The jaw joint, teeth and throat are common sources. Swimmer's ear, earwax and pressure from flights or a stuffy nose are also common. See our sinus pressure guide if your ear pain comes with facial pressure.
How to prevent ear pain and ear infections
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Keep vaccines current, including the yearly flu shot and the pneumococcal vaccine for children.
Wash hands often to cut down on colds, which often lead to ear infections.
Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke around children.
Breastfeed if you can, and never prop a bottle or let a baby drink lying down.
Dry ears well after swimming or bathing.
Keep cotton swabs and small objects out of the ear canal.
Manage allergies. MedlinePlus notes that antihistamines and decongestants do not prevent ear infections.
Ear infections often follow colds, which peak in fall and winter in Westmont, IL. Browse all of our symptom guides, including sore throat and fever.
You cannot be sure without an ear exam. A middle ear infection often follows a cold and causes pain, fever, fussiness and trouble sleeping. Pain in the ear canal after swimming points to swimmer's ear. A clinician uses an otoscope to look at the eardrum and check for fluid or pus behind it.
Will an ear infection go away on its own?
Often, yes. The CDC says the body can often clear a middle ear infection without antibiotics, and the AAP says about 80% of childhood ear infections clear without medicine. A clinician may suggest pain relief and watching for 2 to 3 days. Severe or lasting infections usually need treatment.
Should I go to urgent care for ear pain?
Yes, if ear pain comes with a fever of 102.2°F or higher, drainage from the ear, hearing loss, severe pain, or lasts more than 2 to 3 days. Urgent care is also a good choice for a child under 2 with ear pain and fever, or something stuck in the ear.
Why does my ear hurt but there is no infection?
Ear pain often comes from nearby areas. MedlinePlus lists tooth infections, jaw joint problems (TMJ), sore throats, sinus pressure, earwax and pressure changes from flying. In adults, these are common reasons for ear pain without an ear infection. An exam helps find the true source.
Can urgent care remove earwax?
Yes. Urgent Care Center of Westmont offers ear wax removal when wax is blocking the ear canal or the view of the eardrum. Keep cotton swabs and other objects out of the ear canal. If your ear feels plugged and painful, a clinician can check what is causing it.
Why is ear pain worse at night?
The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that ear infection pain is often worse at night. MedlinePlus suggests sitting upright rather than lying flat, plus a cold pack and acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed. Get checked if night pain keeps returning.
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