Earache

Earache in children is one of the most distressing conditions for both children and their parents. Acute otitis media — infection of the middle ear — is particularly common in young children and can cause significant pain, fever, and sleepless nights. Parents across Medway and Gillingham regularly visit our pharmacy when their child develops earache, often on evenings or weekends when their GP is closed.

The NHS Pharmacy First service allows our pharmacist Sukhdip Bahia to carry out a clinical assessment of earache in children aged 1–17 years. This includes a physical examination of the ear using an otoscope (a lit instrument that allows the pharmacist to look inside the ear canal and at the eardrum). Based on the assessment, he can decide whether antibiotics or medicated ear drops are appropriate.

This service is particularly valuable for parents who cannot get a same-day GP appointment. Our Canterbury Street pharmacy in Gillingham is open every day from 7:30am to 10pm, making it one of the most accessible healthcare options in the Medway towns for children's earache.

Symptoms of earache in children

• Pain in one or both ears, often described as throbbing or stabbing
• Tugging or pulling at the ear, particularly in younger children
• Crying more than usual or seeming irritable
• Difficulty hearing or responding to sounds
• Fever above 38°C
• Fluid or discharge coming from the ear
• Loss of balance or dizziness
• Difficulty sleeping

Who is eligible for Pharmacy First Earache treatment?

The Pharmacy First earache pathway covers children aged 1 to 17 years. It is not suitable for children under 1 year, or for children with high-risk comorbidities such as a cochlear implant, cleft palate, Down's syndrome, or immunodeficiency. A physical ear examination with an otoscope is required before any treatment can be supplied, so the child must be present at the pharmacy.

What can the pharmacist prescribe?

Following examination, if an acute ear infection is confirmed, our pharmacist can supply amoxicillin as a first-line oral antibiotic for children with acute otitis media. If there is an outer ear infection (otitis externa), Otigo ear drops (acetic acid 2% in an aluminium acetate solution) may be supplied instead. For penicillin-allergic children, clarithromycin may be prescribed. Pain relief with paracetamol or ibuprofen (age-appropriate dosing) is always recommended alongside any treatment.

What to expect at Medway Pharmacy

Children's earache is a frequent presentation at Medway Pharmacy, particularly during autumn and winter when upper respiratory infections are common in schools across Gillingham, Chatham, and Rochester. Our pharmacist Sukhdip Bahia has the otoscope and clinical training needed to carry out a proper ear examination on site. Many local parents have found that walking in to see us on Canterbury Street is faster and less stressful than waiting for a GP, especially during school term times when earaches often occur suddenly.

Frequently asked questions

When to see a GP or call 999

While Pharmacy First covers many cases of Earache, you should seek further care if:

• The child is systemically unwell with high fever or vomiting
• There are high-risk co-morbidities such as a cochlear implant or immunodeficiency
• Symptoms are not improving after completing prescribed treatment
• Swelling or redness appears behind the ear — seek emergency care immediately