Symptom Definition

• A child repeatedly pulls, tugs, pokes or itches the outer ear or ear canal.
• Most younger children (under age 2 or 3) who pull or poke at the ear are unable to confirm or deny the presence of an earache.  In a recent study, only 5% of these children had an underlying ear infection.
• Main Cause (infants): normal touching and pulling with discovery of ears.
• Main Cause (older children): mild swimmer's ear from: (1) water accumulation during swimming or showers, (2) soap or shampoo retention, or (3) canal irritation from cotton-tipped swabs.

See More Appropriate Topic

• If child is mainly crying and not pulling at ears, see CRYING CHILD LESS THAN 3 MONTHS OLD.

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Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• Your child looks or acts very sick.
• Fever above 104°F (40°C).

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 and 4) If

• You think your child needs to be seen.
• Seems to be in pain or crying without an obvious reason.
• Recent onset of awakening from sleep.
• Fever or symptoms of a cold are present.
• Drainage from the ear canal.
• Constant digging inside 1 ear canal.

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If

• You have other questions or concerns.

Parent Care at Home

• Normal ear touching or pulling.
• Itchy ear canal.

Home Care Advice for Itchy Ear Canal

1. Habit:  If touching the ear is a new habit, ignore it (prevent doing it for attention).
   
   
2. White Vinegar Eardrops:  Use ½ strength white vinegar by diluting it with equal parts water.  Place 2 drops in each ear canal daily for three days (reason: restore the normal acid pH).  (Exception: ear drainage, ear tubes or hole in eardrum.)
   
   
3. Avoid Soap:  Keep soap and shampoo out of the ear canal.
   
   
4. Avoid Cotton Swabs:  Cotton swabs remove the earwax that normally protects the lining of the ear canal, and this leads to itching and irritation.
   
   
5. Expected Course:  With this treatment, most itching is gone in 2 or 3 days.
   
   
6. Call Your Doctor If:
   
   Pulling at the ear continues for more than 3 days.
   
   Itching continues for more than 1 week.
   
   Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.

Parent Care for Pediatric Symptoms. Copyright © 2000. by Barton D. Schmitt, MD, FAAP

See related topics:

• Crying Child Older Than 3 Months Old (Irritability, Fussiness)