Home Remedies for Ear Infection

The best home care for an ear infection is simple and focuses on comfort and safety.

What helps

• Pain relief. Paracetamol or ibuprofen, dosed by the child's weight (ask a doctor or pharmacist for the dose; do not give aspirin to children).
• Warm compress on the outside. A warm, dry cloth held gently over the outside of the ear can ease pain. Test the temperature on your own wrist first. Never use it hot.
• Upright position. Resting with the head a little raised may feel better than lying flat.
• Fluids and rest. Keep drinking and sleeping as much as possible.
• Feeding upright. For babies, hold them upright during feeds.
• Keep the ear dry with swimmer's ear. Use a shower cap or earplugs while bathing, and avoid swimming until a doctor says it is fine.

What not to do

• No oil, garlic, onion, tulsi juice, breast milk or any liquid in the ear. If the eardrum is perforated, these can cause damage and infection.
• No cotton buds, hairpins or matchsticks in the canal.
• No hydrogen peroxide or alcohol drops.
• No steam for children. Steam and hot humid air carry a scald risk for children and are not advised. Adults may find steam comfortable for a blocked nose, but it will not cure an ear infection.
• No jal neti during an ear infection.

Call the doctor if the child is not better in 2 to 3 days, the pain is severe, or any red flag from the symptoms article appears.

Home care works best as a bridge to proper assessment, not a substitute for it. Comfort measures buy a little relief while you wait for the doctor or for a mild infection to settle. If your child is a baby under 6 months, has a high fever, or seems very unwell, skip home care and see a doctor first.