So why does his ear hurt?
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
March 6, 2013 10:22am CST
Two nights ago my 5 year old woke up in the middle of the night saying his ear hurt. I gave him some pain reliever, and expected to keep him home the next day to visit the doctor.
Well the next morning he woke up and said he was fine. So I sent him to school and figured I'd keep an eye on him.
All day I'd ask him if his ear hurt and he'd say no. So I figured it must have been a fluke.
I sent him to bed last night.. but again he woke up saying his ear hurt. I gave him more meds.
This morning, again, he said his ear was fine.. but 2 nights in a row is enough for me to take him to the doc.
So I kept him home, even though he has seemed fine all morning and saying his ear no longer hurt.
As soon as the doctor's office opened I called and got him an appointment. They were able to see him right away.. so we headed in.
The doc takes a look and says both ears look fine. No redness, no swelling, no sign of infection.. nothing!! Nothing!
The doc gave me a prescription anyway.. in case the ear seems to get worse. He advises that we don't use it unless we have to, which I won't.
But I just don't get it. Why would my son complain of it hurting 2 nights in a row if there's nothing wrong? I'm certainly glad there's nothing wrong.. I'm just confused.
Do you have any sort of explanation for why his ear might hurt without an infection?
The doc gave me a prescription anyway.. in case the ear seems to get worse. He advises that we don't use it unless we have to, which I won't.
But I just don't get it. Why would my son complain of it hurting 2 nights in a row if there's nothing wrong? I'm certainly glad there's nothing wrong.. I'm just confused.
Do you have any sort of explanation for why his ear might hurt without an infection?3 people like this
14 responses
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
6 Mar 13
I suffered for years with pain in my ears but it was a wax builf up. So two or three times a week I use ear drops to soften the wax. It just doesn't come out easily. I honestly don't know as the Dr. would have spotted a wax build up so it must be something else. I do wish that I could help but have no other suggestion. Hopefully it won't occur again tonight
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
6 Mar 13
Is he complaining that it hurts inside or outside his ear?
This probably sounds dumb but could he be sleeping on it wrong? There was a couple of times I woke up and my ear hurt and it was from me sleeping all crooked tucked into my pillow, lol! I know, sounds silly but true.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
6 Mar 13
Two nights in a row seems too coincidental for that. Not sure what it was.. but he's fine during the day, so must just be a fluke or something.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
6 Mar 13
Maybe.. don't they get molars at 6 years old? If so.. he could be getting those even though he only JUST turned 5.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
6 Mar 13
I'm going to side with Lil but on this one it could be his molars coming in OR it could be something with the tempreatures where he just had an ear ache from a cold? I had a cold the other week and my ears were hurting and popping.
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
6 Mar 13
Infection was the first thing I thought of. Second was a wax plug. but if the doc didn't find either, not a clue.
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
6 Mar 13
Hopefully it goes away and doesn't require further tests.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
6 Mar 13
If the doc doesn't know.. I can't imagine who would know!
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
6 Mar 13
Reading the other responses now leans me towards it being toothache instead. This makes sense
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
6 Mar 13
Not good. Ear aches can be caused by many other illnesses. id make sure you get a dr. to check it real fast. Good luck.
@4ofmyown (1119)
• United States
7 Mar 13
Two things came to mind when I read this. First, maybe he is sleeping funny...maybe his ear gets folded. I know that has happened to me and makes my ear sore the next day and then he may only realize it once he lays his head down. The second is either he may be clinching his teeth or has a problem with a tooth he already has or a molar getting ready to cut through. Hope he feels better.
@lelin1123 (15594)
• Puerto Rico
6 Mar 13
I have to say there are times my one ear will hurt while I'm sleeping and I'm not sure if its because I'm sleeping on it; that maybe it fell asleep. I'm not even sure that is possible. However, that is they way it feels. So maybe he is having the same problem and its all due to him sleeping on it. I would ask him if he is sleeping on that one ear and that may explain the problem. Good luck!
@cvodrey (225)
• United States
7 Mar 13
I'm wondering maybe if his 6-year molars are coming in. Sometimes teething can cause kids to have achy ears. It also might be how he sleeps on his ear. If I sleep on my ear wrong, or on a pillow that isn't very soft, I will wake up with severe pain in the ear I slept on. I've never in my life had an ear infection, but I do have these issues with nighttime earaches. Maybe he just needs a new pillow.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
8 Mar 13
The first question that I can think of to ask you is whether or not he is cutting molars right now. I know that my son that turned six not all that long ago has been working on getting his six-year molars for quite a while now and it has been something that has caused him to have a lot of discomfort in his ears. I don't know the exact reason for this, but I suspect that it is because of the fact that the bite is changing when children are getting molars and that does cause them to have pain from tension of growing.
@WakeUpKitty (8691)
• Netherlands
6 Mar 13
There are more people who do complain about earpains at night. It's possible it is caused by the way they sleep. Too much pressure at one ear, starts as soon as they turn around. Some people think it's because of the fact their ear seems to be "harder"/stiffer as with other people (so more pressure on it when you lie on it).
It's also possible your son does have an infection not be able to see yet.
Try to find out if the pain is leaving if he for example is pressing against his ears or is yawning (it's a way to find out if the pressure comes from the inside or outside).
@binaybbsr1 (374)
• India
7 Mar 13
Its too difficult to guess something when it is in ear and moreover when it is with a kid. I think some flies like element might have gone inside. You can put some oil inside. Its good if something is inside and not harmful too. Better not take it casually.
