Earaches are the #1 reason parents bring their children to the doctor — whether it’s caused by an ear infection, fluid buildup or swimmer’s ear. While ear infections are common and generally non-critical, they are known to be painful. A severe ear infection can also cause nausea, dizziness and hearing loss, so it’s best to get treatment as soon as you notice symptoms of ear pain. Save your spot in line at our urgent care for ear infections.
At Urgent Care for Children, we offer pediatric urgent care for ear infections in newborns to teens, with walk-in and after-hours availability at multiple locations across Alabama. We want your child to feel better quickly and strive to be the best urgent care for kids with ear infections. Find pediatric ear pain treatment at the Alabama urgent care clinic closest to your family!
Urgent Care for Children: Ear Infection Services
Our pediatric-trained providers take a thorough and gentle approach to diagnosing and treating ear infections. We’ll examine your child’s ear, assess their symptoms and recommend the best course of treatment to relieve pain and promote healing.
Ear Infection Treatment for Kids
For general ear pain, we begin with a thorough examination to determine the underlying cause of discomfort. We provide assessments for patients with and without ear tubes. Our providers may also order laboratory testing to check for a related condition, such as flu or strep throat.
Prescription Medications
If an infection is detected, antibiotic oral medication may be prescribed. Antibiotic ear drops are also commonly prescribed for swimmer’s ear treatment for kids and patients with ear tubes. Pick up your child’s prescription at our convenient in-house pharmacy before you leave your appointment, and get them home to rest sooner.
FAQs: Earaches & Ear Infections in Babies and Kids
Ear infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses or a buildup of fluid or ear wax behind the eardrum. Another contributing factor that makes ear infections common among infants and toddlers is the small size of their eustachian tubes, a key passageway that connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. Common diagnoses for ear pain are:
- Middle Ear Infection: Middle ear infections occur when fluid builds up behind the eardrum and becomes infected. This is one of the most common childhood illnesses.
- Outer Ear Infection: Swimmer’s ear is an outer ear infection caused by trapped moisture, leading to redness, itching and pain. If your child has been swimming and complains of ear pain, swimmer’s ear treatment for kids is available at our clinics.
Recurring or chronic ear infections in kids can affect speech development and hearing. A pediatric provider can help determine if follow-up care or further inner ear infection treatment for your kids is necessary.
If your child has an earache, watch for these symptoms:
- Tugging, poking or pulling at the ear
- Difficulty hearing or responding to sounds
- Dizziness
- Fever (especially in infants and toddlers)
- Fluid or discharge from the ear, which can be yellow, green, white or tinged with blood
- Irritability and general discomfort
- Interrupted sleeping
- Nausea
Yes, urgent care can flush ears. Earaches caused by a buildup of ear wax can be relieved by a provider by flushing the ear canal with warm water or ear drops. For an ear infection, urgent care can also help safely remove clogs from ear tubes. Don’t rely on kids’ ear infection home remedies for severe pain. Find an ear infection doctor near you for treatment for swimmer’s ear and middle ear infections.
It’s easy to understand why parents want to know how to stop an earache fast. If your child’s symptoms are worsening, last more than two to three days or are accompanied by a fever, get in line for an appointment at a walk-in clinic for ear infections. While some earaches go away on their own, pain from an inner ear infection can be disruptive and uncomfortable. In more severe cases, an ear infection could also lead to vomiting or a ruptured ear drum.
There’s no need to wait out your child’s symptoms at home when you need after-hours pediatric care in Alabama. Visit Urgent Care for Children for fast treatment for kids’ ear infections.
Save Your Spot for Your Child’s Urgent Care Appointment
Ear infections are the top reason parents seek medical care for their children. At Urgent Care for Children, we offer walk-in and after-hours care for ear infections so your little one can get back to feeling their best sooner. We have pediatric-trained providers at our clinic locations across Alabama, including Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa. Save a spot online to minimize your waiting time at our after-hours earache clinic.
Looking for the best pediatric urgent care in Alabama? We are here to help your family feel better when you need us the most. Get fast relief for ear pain at Urgent Care for Children today.
In the event of a medical emergency, Urgent Care for Children recommends calling 911 or visiting your local emergency room. We are not able to treat acute traumas, medical emergencies or life-threatening illnesses.