EARS, PULLING AT OR ITCHY

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.

Causes

• Main Cause (infants): normal touching and pulling with discovery of ears.
• This behavior is usually not seen before 4 months of age
• 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 (instead of this one) If

• Child is mainly crying and not pulling at ears, see CRYING CHILD OLDER THAN 3 MONTHS OLD.

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR EARS, PULLING AT OR ITCHY

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• Your child looks or acts very sick.
• Fever above 104°F (40°C).
• Age less than 12 weeks with fever greater than 100.4 F (38.0 C) rectally

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

• You think your child needs to be seen.
• Seems to be in pain or crying without an obvious reason.
• Starts 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 If:

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

HOME CARE ADVICE FOR EAR PULLING HABIT OR 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.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

Pediatric HouseCalls Online. Copyright © 2000-2004 Barton Schmitt, M.D. FAAP

Reviewed 8/2004

Revised 8/2003

See Other Topics:

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

View Anatomic Index of Topics