NHS Pharmacy First · Age 1–17
Earache in children and young people
Ear pain is common in children and is often caused by a middle ear infection. Our pharmacists can examine your child’s ear and recommend the right care.
Ear infections usually get better within three days, but they can be painful and upsetting. Under Pharmacy First, our pharmacists can examine children and young people aged 1 to 17 with an otoscope and advise on the best treatment.
Common symptoms
- Pain inside the ear
- A high temperature
- Pulling or rubbing at the ear in younger children
- Being irritable, restless or off their food
How we can help
- An ear examination in a private consultation room
- Advice on pain relief and caring for your child at home
- NHS treatment if the pharmacist feels it is clinically appropriate
When to get urgent help: contact NHS 111 or your GP urgently if your child is very unwell, has swelling or redness behind the ear, a stiff neck, or fluid coming from the ear with a high temperature.
NHSRead more about ear infections on the NHS website
Make Smart Pharm your pharmacy
Expert, friendly care from pharmacists backed by robotic dispensing and medicine scanning.