Even though your child will feel better in a few days, you must give all the medicine to keep the ear infection from flaring up again. Give medicine to relieve pain. You can give your child acetaminophen for a few days to relieve earache or fever over 102 dregrees F. Earaches tend to hurt more at bedtime. To help ease the pain, you can put an ice bag or ice wrapped in a wet washcloth over the ear for 20 minutes. This may decrease the swelling and pressure inside.
Some physicians recommend a heating pad instead.
Take reasonable precautions. Your child can go outside and does not need to cover the ears. A trip to the mountains or air travel is generally safe. Just have your child swallow fluids, suck on a pacifier, or chew gum during the 30 to 60 minutes that the airplane is descending to help relieve any pressure buildup in the middle ear. Be sure to keep follow-up appointments.