Other Treatment

If a child with an ear infection has a bad earache, a doctor may perform tympanocentesis. He or she puts a needle through the eardrum to remove fluid from behind the eardrum. It helps ease pain. The fluid is sometimes sent to a lab for testing. A culture and sensitivity test may find out what is causing the infection. Then your doctor can choose the antibiotic that will work best for your child.

Allergy treatment can help children who have allergies and who also have frequent ear infections. Allergy testing isn't suggested unless children have signs of allergies.

Some people use herbal remedies, such as echinacea and garlic oil capsules, to treat ear infections. There is no scientific evidence that these therapies work. If you are thinking about using these therapies for your child's ear infection, talk with your doctor.