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Ear pain in children: relief, when to see a doctor, and when it needs an in-person visit

Spanish-speaking video consult · $88 USD

Ear pain is very common in children and it almost always scares parents, especially at night. With Doctor Matt you can talk over video with Colombian doctors who speak your language to get guidance on how to ease the pain and, honestly, to be told whether your child needs to be examined in person. The consult costs $88 USD in a single payment, we see patients with or without insurance, and we care for children from around 1–2 years and up. You can book your video consult here.

Important note about age: we see children by video from around 1 to 2 years old. For babies younger than ~1–2 years, newborns, or any serious symptom, in-person or emergency care is needed. We do not treat newborns or young infants by telemedicine.

Warning signs — do NOT use telemedicine

If your child has any of these signs, do not use telemedicine: call 911 or go to the emergency room right away.

  • Trouble breathing or fast breathing.
  • Blue or gray lips or skin (a bluish color).
  • Signs of dehydration: no wet diaper or urine for 6–8 hours, crying with no tears, dry mouth, sunken eyes.
  • Listlessness or drowsiness, or not waking up properly / not responding.
  • A seizure.
  • A stiff neck.
  • Small red or purple spots on the skin (petechiae) that do not fade when you press on them.
  • Fever in a baby under 3 months old.
  • Severe pain that will not ease.

And specific to the ear: very severe ear pain, high fever, pus or discharge draining from the ear, swelling or redness behind the ear, or a stiff neck are also reasons for in-person or emergency care, not telemedicine.

What can help ear pain at home?

While you wait for the consult or assess your child, there are safe steps that help with the discomfort:

  • Pain reliever: the doctor determines the medication and the dose based on the child's WEIGHT and AGE. We do not give doses or milligrams online, and you should never calculate it on your own.
  • Never aspirin in children: do not give a child aspirin because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a serious complication.
  • Warm compress: a warm (not hot) cloth held against the ear can soothe the pain.
  • Keep your child comfortable and hydrated and watch how things progress.

Do not do this: do not put cotton swabs (Q-tips), do not insert objects, and do not put ear drops in on your own. If the eardrum is perforated, some drops can be dangerous. Let the doctor decide what is safe for your child.

Ear infection (otitis media): let's be honest

This is the most important part and we say it clearly: an ear infection (otitis media) in children often needs an in-person exam. To know whether the ear is infected, the doctor usually needs to look at the eardrum with an otoscope, something that cannot be done over video. On top of that, antibiotics that are beyond over-the-counter (OTC) care are sometimes required.

That is why, in a video consult, the doctor guides you: explaining how to ease the pain, what to watch for, and which warning signs to monitor, and telling you honestly whether your child needs to be seen in person or may need a prescription that cannot be handled by telemedicine. We would rather be transparent than promise something we cannot deliver.

What to expect from the video consult

You will speak with a real doctor in Spanish, with no language barrier. You can describe your child's symptoms — how long they have lasted, whether there is a fever, whether the child is tugging at the ear, whether they are sleeping poorly — and get clear recommendations: how to manage the pain safely, which warning signs to watch for, and when to seek in-person care. Remember: this is not a physical clinic, and the doctors are Colombian and see patients by video — they are not licensed in any U.S. state. We do not promise prescriptions for controlled medications.

Emergencies: when to call 911

Telemedicine does not replace an emergency or an in-person exam of the ear. If your child has trouble breathing, is listless, has a seizure, has a stiff neck, has swelling behind the ear, or has severe pain that will not ease, call 911 right away or go to the emergency room. To help you with mild ear pain and decide the next step, we are here for you.

Need guidance now? Book your Spanish-speaking video consult today, with or without insurance.

Talk over video with a doctor in Spanish about your child's ear pain (children from ~1–2 years). One-time payment of $88 USD, with or without insurance.

Book my consult — $88 USD
Emergency: if there is trouble breathing, blue lips, a seizure, a stiff neck, listlessness with not waking up properly, or severe pain that will not ease, call 911 or go to the emergency room. Do not use telemedicine for an emergency.

Frequently asked questions

From what age do you see children?

We see children by video from around 1 to 2 years of age and up. For babies younger than 1 to 2 years, newborns, or any serious case, in-person or emergency care is needed: at those ages symptoms change quickly and the child must be examined in person. We do not treat newborns or young infants by telemedicine.

Does an ear infection in a child always need antibiotics?

Not always, but an ear infection (otitis media) in children often needs an in-person exam and sometimes antibiotics that are beyond over-the-counter care. Over video the doctor guides you on relieving the pain and tells you honestly whether your child needs to be seen in person or may need a prescription that cannot be handled by telemedicine.

What can I give my child for ear pain while I wait for the consult?

The doctor determines the medication and the dose based on the child's WEIGHT and AGE; we do not give doses or milligrams online. A warm compress against the ear can help. Never give aspirin to a child because of the risk of Reye's syndrome. Do not put cotton swabs or drops into the ear on your own.

Is the consultation in Spanish?

Yes. The consult is a video visit in Spanish with Colombian doctors, with no language barrier. You describe your child's symptoms in Spanish and receive clear guidance. The doctors are licensed in Colombia and are not licensed in any U.S. state, so this is orientation and over-the-counter guidance, not a U.S. prescription.

Do you see patients without insurance?

Yes. We see patients with or without insurance. You do not need health insurance or a membership: it is a single flat payment of $88 USD for the Spanish-speaking video consult. Book at https://www.doctormattusa.com/#agenda.

Is the doctor physically near me or in my city?

No. This is not a physical clinic. It is video telemedicine with Colombian doctors who speak Spanish; they are not licensed in the United States. You connect from wherever you are in the U.S. using your phone or computer. If your child's ear needs to be examined in person, the doctor will tell you so you can go to an office or the emergency room.

When should I take my child to the ER for ear pain?

Go to the emergency room or call 911 if there is severe pain that will not ease, high fever, pus or discharge draining from the ear, swelling or redness behind the ear, listlessness or drowsiness, a stiff neck, trouble breathing, or if it is a baby under 3 months with a fever. In those cases do not use telemedicine.