An aching ear sends many people reaching for a cotton bud, but the NHS says first: don’t put anything inside your ear, such as cotton buds. Earache is often an ear infection but has many possible causes; at home the NHS suggests paracetamol or ibuprofen and a warm flannel on the ear. If it doesn’t improve within 2 to 3 days, get urgent advice. This sets out the NHS page “Earache”.
1. Painkillers and a warm flannel. No aspirin under 16.
2. No cotton buds, no removing earwax, keep water out.
3. Over 2 to 3 days, a high temperature, swelling, fluid or hearing changes: get urgent help. Also a child under 2 with earache in both ears.
How long and why — NHS
The NHS says how long earache lasts depends on what’s causing it. Most earaches in children are caused by an ear infection, which usually starts to improve after a few days. The page groups causes by the symptoms that come with the pain.
| With | Causes the NHS lists | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| Toothache | Children teething, dental abscess | The tooth, not the ear, may be the cause |
| Change in hearing | Glue ear, earwax build-up, something stuck in the ear (don’t try to remove it yourself; see a GP) | — |
| Pain when swallowing | Sore throat, tonsillitis, quinsy | The throat may be the cause |
| Fever | Ear infection, flu, cold | — |
Earwax is in earwax removal, tooth pain in toothache, and throat pain in sore throat.
Do and don’t — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| Do | Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (no aspirin under 16) | — |
| Do | Place a warm flannel on the ear | Only warm is mentioned |
| Don’t | Put anything inside your ear, such as cotton buds | — |
| Don’t | Try to remove earwax | — |
| Don’t | Let water get inside your ear | Hair washing, swimming |
At the pharmacy — NHS
A pharmacist can help with earache, the NHS says: advice on treating it yourself, whether you can buy things like eardrops, and whether you need a GP. In the UK a pharmacist can also decide whether they can treat a middle ear infection in children aged 1 to 17; that describes the UK system, and we haven’t checked whether Korean pharmacies do the same.
When to get help — NHS
| Where | When | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| GP | You or your child keep getting earache | — |
| Urgent (GP or NHS 111) | Had it more than 2 to 3 days · generally unwell · high temperature or shivery · swelling around the ear · fluid from the ear · hearing loss or change · something stuck in the ear · a child under 2 with earache in both ears | 2 to 3 days is the limit for waiting |
For a child under 5, the NHS says to call 111 for advice. 111 is the UK medical helpline; the page we read has no separate 999 list. Children’s fever is in baby fever, and where to go in ER vs local clinic.
Checklist
- ☐ Painkillers and a warm flannel (no aspirin under 16)
- ☐ No cotton buds, no digging out wax, keep water out
- ☐ Check for tooth or throat symptoms too
- ☐ Over 2 to 3 days, fluid, swelling or hearing change: urgent help
- ☐ Under 2 with both ears hurting: urgent help
Questions that remain
Will putting oil in my ear help?
The NHS earache page we read just says not to put anything in the ear. Earwax is covered separately in earwax removal.
Do I need antibiotics?
This page doesn’t list antibiotics as something to do; it says children’s ear infections usually start to improve after a few days.
Sources
- NHS — Earache — source (page shows: reviewed 27 October 2025, next review 27 October 2028; checked 12 October 2026). Duration by cause, 4 symptom groups of causes, 2 dos and 3 don’ts, pharmacy, 1 GP reason and 8 urgent signs, 111 for under-5s.
- Not read. NHS ear infections page; Korean agency guidance on middle ear infections.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column.
Where else to check
- A pharmacist — painkillers and eardrops.
Written on 12 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours.