Medical Health Encyclopedia

Herbal remedies are not standardized or regulated, and their quality and safety are largely unknown. Parents should never give their child herbal remedies, including oral remedies, without approval from a doctor.

Valsalva's Maneuver. A simple technique called the Valsalva's maneuver is useful in opening the Eustachian tubes and providing occasional relief from the chronic stuffy feeling accompanying otitis media with effusion. It may also be useful for unplugging ears during air travel descent as well. It works as follows:

• The child takes a deep breath and closes the mouth.
• He or she then blows the nose gently while, at the same time, pinching it firmly shut.
• The parent should be sure to instruct the child not to blow too hard or the eardrum could be harmed.

This technique should not be used if an infection is present.

Pain-Relievers

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A number of pain relievers are available to help relieve symptoms.

• Either acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) is the pain-reliever of choice in children.
• Older children may be able to take prescription pain relievers that contain codeine if the pain is severe.
• Eardrops containing anesthetics (Auralgan) are also available by prescription. In one study Auralgan provides effective short-acting pain relief and helps children endure ear discomfort until an oral pain reliever takes effect. In one study, 89% of children who took eardrops were able to avoid antibiotics. Parents should check with a doctor before using them. Eardrops could cause damage in children who have a ruptured eardrum. This might be indicated by fluid drainage from the ear canal.

Note: Aspirin and aspirin-containing products are not recommended for children or adolescents. Reports of Reye's Syndrome, a very serious condition, have been associated with aspirin use in children who have chicken pox or flu.

Cold and Allergy Remedies