Pediatric Urgent Care Interventions For Severe Earache
Earaches in children are common and symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe pain and even hearing loss. Before a treatment plan can be implemented, the cause of your child's severe earache needs to be identified. Here are some pediatric urgent care interventions that you can expect if you bring your child to a children's urgent care center for their earache.
Oral Medical History And Examination
The pediatric urgent care professional will take an oral medical history from you regarding your child's condition. They may ask you if your child recently had a viral or bacterial infection, if they have drainage tubes in their ears, or if they have hearing problems.
Your child's vital signs will also be taken so that the provider can determine if the patient has a fever, a fast heart rate, or a fast respiratory rate because these signs can be indicative of an infection. An ear examination with an otoscope will also be performed so that the provider can assess the ear for redness, fluid, discharge, inflammation, and impacted wax. The pediatric urgent care provider will also examine the eardrum for signs of bleeding and rupture.
If damage to the ear canal or eardrum is identified, the healthcare provider will recommend that you follow up with your child's primary care doctor for further evaluation and appropriate treatment.
Pain Relief Recommendations And Antibiotics
The healthcare provider at the pediatric urgent care center may recommend that you give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help ease their earache and treat an elevated temperature. They may also recommend that your child place a heating pad set to the lowest setting on their ear or apply a warm compress to the affected ear to ease their pain. If the provider determines that a bacterial infection is the cause of your child's severe earache, they may prescribe antibiotics.
If the earache is related to a viral or fungal infection, antibiotics will not be helpful, and therefore, will not be prescribed. Before choosing the appropriate antibiotic, the urgent care professional will ask you if your child has any allergies to penicillin or other antibiotics.
If your child develops a severe earache, visit a pediatric urgent care center or take them to their pediatrician's office. When the source of your child's pain is quickly diagnosed and treated, their symptoms will resolve faster so that they can feel better and resume their day-to-day activities.