Ear aches

A heat pack usually eases pain.

No peroxide here. I use Ear-Ease, it's a plastic container that you fill with warm water and the kid holds it over their ear-it's a miracle cure. When my allergies act up, I get pressure in my ear and the Ear-Ease actually helps! No fever and no overt tenderness to a gentle tug on the ear gets Ear-Ease and return when it's no longer warm for a check in. I'd say 90% of the time, the complaint is gone by that time. If it persists, I'll call home. Obviously, if they are in distress or have a fever or tenderness, they get picked up. Next to "my stomach hurts", earaches are my most frequent illness complaint.

I don't use peroxide either. I use the Ear-Ease - helps most of the time. I will give a parent a call just to let them know their kid is complaining about an earache in case they need to make a doctors appt to have it checked or request a dose of tylenol or motrin to help the kid get thru the day.

Besides the Ear-ease, what DIY ideas for a heat pak? I don't have any funds for fancy stuff. I have a few washcloths that I microwave, put in a baggie and let them use. Any better ideas?

A heat pack usually eases pain.

Same. I have small reusable ones I order that are the perfect size for ears.

I will take a look with my otoscope if it is ear pain vs. ear ache. Like student is clearly very uncomfortable, typically one-sided, and reports something like ear is "throbbing inside." I've seen suspected ear infections without fever - not often in the older kids, but I do see 'em.

i usually just check for redness. if yes, call home to advise parent. Pick up is at discretion of parent. For comfort sometimes i will make a little warm pack out of a wet paper towels run under hot water and placed in a glove.

I like the Ear Ease thing. You guys sound like a commercial.

I don't see too many earaches for Gr. 7-12, but when I was a kid I was overrun with them. I lived on Dimetapp and PCN. No fevers.

Same. I have small reusable ones I order that are the perfect size for ears.

I will take a look with my otoscope if it is ear pain vs. ear ache. Like student is clearly very uncomfortable, typically one-sided, and reports something like ear is "throbbing inside." I've seen suspected ear infections without fever - not often in the older kids, but I do see 'em.

So jealous you have an otoscope!!

Just got a complaint. I have homemade heat packs of a cotton sock filled with a bag of rice. Microwave for 90 seconds and voila! pain relief.

So jealous you have an otoscope!!

Oh, it isn't fancy. It is one of those $30 ones you can get on Amazon. I wouldn't use it to diagnose (which we can't anyway, scope of practice and all), but it can give me a nice view to see if the ear is inflamed enough to recommend a doctor's appointment.

I too use the Ear-ease, they seem to work wonders! I've even used it for myself in the past. I have 4 of them currently. They are about 15 dollars each. I added an extra one to my budget the past two years.

LOVE them!

I make a heat pack by putting 2-3 paper towels folded into a snack size baggie. Wet it until soggy. Wring out most of the moisture and microwave about 8 seconds. Zip the bag up, wrap in a paper towel to avoid scalds (it is never hot enough to scald) and give it to the student. Goes in the trash when done.

I tried the reusable gel packs. If they made it to the classroom, they never came back. Had 48 disappear in 6 weeks or less. I was so sad.

I could never use an ear ease, if they stayed in my clinic long enough for the thing to go from warm to cold they'd never go away. Most of my ear ache cases NEED to be seen by a doctor. Ear canals completely blocked or eardrums bulging. I call a parent and ask them to make an appointment as soon as possible. If no answer, a letter goes home stating what I saw with my otoscope and my concern for the ear canal and why.