Earaches Instruction Sheet:Earaches first aid

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Earache can be exceptionally painful. It has a number of common causes, including infection, or as a symptom of other conditions such as flu or tonsillitis. Like earache, toothache can cause agonising pain. Usually caused by a decaying or damaged tooth, it can also arise as a result of problems such as an ear infection or sinusitis, or even from jaw tension. In babies and children, there may be pain and discomfort as their teeth come through. Sore throats can be a sign of infection such as tonsillitis or a symptom of colds and flu. There may be swelling and infection around the throat, or swollen glands visible under the jaw.
Earaches can be slightly painful to extremely painful. An ear ache is caused by a fluid buildup due to some infection or pressure build up in the middle ear. Swimming, bathing, allergies or even cleaning your ear with cotton bud can lead to discomfort, bacterial growth and infection in the ear.
Most common cause of the ache is due to plugged 'Eustachian' tubes (a small tube connecting the ear to the nose). If and when your Eustachian tubes become blocked possibility of bacteria buildup or infection, fluid will gather resulting in a painful earache. Increase in pressure leads to pain, hearing loss, itching and swelling. To avoid ear aches and infections, one should keep the Eustachian tube free of pollutants and irritants and regularly clean the nasal passage.
First Aid For Treating earache
If there is a fever or discharge, seek urgent medical help, as this may be a sign of serious infection or a burst ear-drum. Seek medical advice if there is any loss of hearing. Check the history of the problem to rule out injury to the ear or skull, or the presence of a foreign object. Help the person into a comfortable position. A hot-water bottle wrapped in a towel placed on the ear may provide some pain relief. Enable the person to take her usual painkillers. If the condition persists or gets worse, especially in children, seek medical advice.
ANALGESICS (PAINKILLERS)
When used according to the instructions, analgesics such as acetaminophen have little risk for a healthy adult. Medicines such as acetaminophen syrup made especially for children can provide safe pain relief.People in severe pain are at risk from an accidental overdose of analgesics and while paracetamol is generally safe, one of its potential drawbacks is that very few extra pills are required to risk an overdose.To reduce the chances of problems with any analgesics:
Read and follow the instructions carefully. Seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist if necessary. Do not leave analgesics near the bed while sleeping. It is easy to wake up in pain and forget when the last dose was taken. Seek early medical advice if you think that an overdose may have been taken, even if there are no signs and symptoms of a problem. Acetaminophen poisoning, for example does not show up immediately but the antidote needs to be takes as soon as possible.
TREATING A SORE THROAT
Check the history of the problem to rule put poisoning or burns. Give the person plenty of cold fluids to drink. Enable the person to take his usual analgesics. Seek medical advice if the condition persists or if sore throats are recurrent, particularly in children.
TREATING TOOTHACHE
1. Check the history of the problem to rule out any injury to the mouth or jaw.
2. Assist the person into a comfortable position. The throbbing pain associated with an infected tooth is often eased if the person is sitting up.
3. Enable the person to take her usual analgesics.
4. A hot-water bottle wrapped in a towel or hot compress placed alongside the face may help relieve the pain. Oil of cloves applied to the cotton swab and placed on the tooth (not the gums) may also help numb the pain. Children may benefit from teething remedies available from pharmacies.
Encourage the person to make an appointment with a dentist.
Try some of these home remedies for earache.
The greatest pain reliever is the presence of warm, moist heat around the ache. A warm compress - such as a towel rung out in hot water and pressed against the ear, brings immediate relief.
After you take a shower or bath; blow dry your ears with the warm setting of a hair dryer instead of rubbing them.
Puncture a piece of garlic and pour the juice in the ear. Garlic being a natural antibiotic will help to take the pain away.
Put some mineral oil (oil derived from a mineral source, such as petroleum, because it is inexpensive and rarely causes allergic reactions) in your ear before going in the water. Wear earplugs while swimming and avoid swimming in dirty waters.
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