Peroxide

• Peroxide can treat wax blockage of the ear canal and prevent dirt from reaching the eardrum, but it will not help an ear infection and might cause additional pain. A few drops of mineral oil also will remove the blockage. Both are better for cleaning wax than cotton swabs, which actually only push wax farther down into your ear canal.
  
  

Prevention

• You can prevent ear infections by using allergy medication or decongestants to lower your risk of fluid buildup behind your eardrum when you have a cold, stay away from others who are ill, wash hands frequently and avoid excess antibiotic use. You can prevent ear infections in children by breastfeeding during the first six months, washing toys frequently, avoiding pacifier use and getting them their vaccinations. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, "the pneumococcal vaccine prevents infections from the organism that most commonly causes acute ear infections and many respiratory infections."
  
  

Children

• Your child probably has an ear infection if she pulls on her ears because of ear pain, cries without obvious cause, is sleepless and irritable, appears to have hearing difficulties, is feverish and has ear drainage. These symptoms can be treated at home with over-the-counter pain medications, warm compresses and distraction with games, books and television. If her condition does not improve after three days, take her to a doctor. Signs of worsening are the onset of new symptoms or a ruptured eardrum, which is evident by pus and blood draining from the ears.
  
  

Treatment

• A doctor will advise waiting to see if an ear infection improves during the first 72 hours of onset if your symptoms are mild and you're healthy overall. Children older than 6 months will be treated the same. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen or numbing drops can alleviate pain. Antibiotics are prescribed right away for newborns or if you have had two or more infections in the last month. Drainage tubes are placed if your hearing is affected or your infections are not responding to antibiotics.
  
  

Warnings

• If you or your child has an ear infection, don't use peroxide or insert anything into the ear. Clean outside drainage, but not the ear canal, with tissue or cloth, not cotton swabs. Don't use ear drops if the eardrum is ruptured.