Itchy Ears??

Updated on January 14, 2009
R.S. asks from Richlands, NC
23 answers

Has anyone had any encounters with itchy ears? My 5 year old son has been complaining that his ears (the canal) has been VERY itchy....he's constantly rubbing them! He even comes to his Dad and I trying to get us to use Q-Tips on him! I've checked and there's nothing in there that I can see and his ears are very clean. He has had lots of ear infections in the past and does wear hearing aids...but hasn't worn them in awhile due to a malfunction. Anyone have any ideas?? I'm about to make an appointment with his ENT but wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions first. Thank you!

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N.S.

answers from Nashville on

I have personally had issue with itchy ears. I started taking zyrtec and it has completely went away.

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K.H.

answers from Memphis on

I had itchy ears when I was young and even since I had tubes in when I was nine. I am 31 now, but anytime I have fluid build up my ears will itch or at least the one that is most full of fluid. Take him to the ENT and they will more than likely find fluid. Hope this helps you both!!

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J.T.

answers from Louisville on

Kuddos to you and the great job you've done with the boys! My own son was born with a heart defect and spent 5 weeks in NICU. I can't imagine one being early and having further problems. My very best to all of you.

I would agree with the other mom, take him to see his doctor. Unless you are looking with an otoscope(sp) it's difficult to see the entire canal. There could be something in there that is causing the itching and needs to be flushed by a nurse. I've had my fair share believe me! One very difficult case was a teenager that used a Q-tip and the cotton end stuck in the canal. Flushing with water, of course caused more of a problem, but sometimes you can't tell doctors anything....unless you are a mom and it's your child! It could be something just as simple. When we use the q-tips, it can sometimes push the hardened wax to the far back reaches of the canal. May be causing his itching. Good luck and hope this helps!

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C.R.

answers from Raleigh on

I had itchy ears for over 2 years and the doctors tried everything. Finally an ENT diagnosed me with eczma of the ears and gave me a prescription, Protopic .1%
I use it every once in a while and has saved my mind.

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M.S.

answers from Louisville on

I myself had itchy ears for years. My doctor checked my ear and said it was clear. He advised me not to use Qtips because it only pushes whatever is in there further inside. He told me to put some cortisone at the tip of a Qtip then put it in my ear when it itches but not to use Qtips for cleaning my ear specially after a shower. It helps.

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K.R.

answers from Lexington on

Have you considered it might be allergies? My ears itch when my allergies start acting up.

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W.M.

answers from Nashville on

Maybe they just need a good cleaning. There are drops you can use at the pharmacy. They are basically hydro peroxide and you drop them in and it should clean out excess wax. My son was hurting in his ears and the doc pulled out a HUGE clump of wax and said every now and then you have to drop the drops in to clean out excess wax.

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S.R.

answers from Memphis on

i get very itchy ears, too, and it seems to be related to allergies...

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L.J.

answers from Lexington on

Could it be allergies? There may be something in the air that bothers him.

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M.T.

answers from Nashville on

I think getting him into see the Ent is a great choice.
Good luck.

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M.S.

answers from Greensboro on

Hi RS,

I agree with Whitney that there is an allergy to something. (My ears used to itch on occasion.) Allergies can come and go depending on how his immune system is functioning.

Detoxing the house can build the immune system and also remove any allergens that are affecting his little body. Detoxing his body can help as well. Let me know if you'd like to know how to detox the house. It is quite simple and can be very inexpensive and it will help everyone in the house as well.....

Regards,

M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

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L.B.

answers from Greensboro on

I have been plagued with ear itching and infections all my life. I have been studying nutrition for the past 6 years and I have learned that yeast (candida) in our bodies can play a major role with allergies. Eating too much sugar, starches, and yeast breads feeds the yeast in our bodies which leads to inflammation and infections. Also food dyes and petroleum based artificial ingredients can aggrevate this condition too. Look up Candida albicans for a yeast free diet and www.feingold.org for artificial ingredients. Best wishes.

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L.H.

answers from Hickory on

I wonder if he has excema in his ears. My son had that for a while and the doc gave him a mild steroid drop that took care of it. It seemed to flare up in the winter months when the heat was running.
L.

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L.H.

answers from Louisville on

Hi. I have had itchy ears for years. I use Eucerin Original Moisturizing Creme. just a dab rubbed in my ear canal once a week or so always works. hope you find a good solution. L.

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J.B.

answers from Greensboro on

If after you have tried all the other advice listed below, check out the hearing aid molds. The dye that they use for them could be the cause. I had a co-worker who had to get clear molds because of this.

I also have had a fungal infection in one ear once in 37 years of wearing hearing aids. It isn't anything you do wrong, things just line up in the ear just right for the conditions to be right for it. (My ENT shared that with me). Even for those w/o hearing aids. Good luck and trust your instincts!

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C.

answers from Charlotte on

I also agree that it could be a fungal infection in the ear canal...I have heard of people having these before. You can get yeast type infections just about anywhere on the body, so it's definately a possiblity. Good luck to you and your son on finding the cause.

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J.S.

answers from Chattanooga on

I think an appointment with an ENT is a great idea. It is likely an allergy. I know when I don't eat right or have sinus problems my ears itch like crazy. Wouldn't hurt to speak with an allergy dr either!
J.

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C.R.

answers from Knoxville on

A friend of mine(adult) was complaining of her ears itching. She went to her reg. DR and he did not see anything. After a while her ears started to hurt, they gave her antibiotics for ear infection. It helped but reoccured after a month. She saw one ENT who did not help at all. Then went to another ENT that checked for a fungal infection in her ears. It came back positive. Once they treated it properly she finally had relief. She suffered for 10 months before the proper diagnosis. Remember to be an advocate for your children with the DRs.

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C.D.

answers from Louisville on

I keep two things on hand at all times...ear candles and Wally's Ear Oil. Both items are all natural and can be found at your local health food store. The ear candles are a great way to get the ears cleaned from way down inside and using the Wally's right after candling maintains inner ear health. Two of my three children have had repetetive ear problems until I started using the candles about 4 years ago. The ear oil can be used on itchy ears as well as ear pain. It doesn't work 100% of the time, but for me it helps with our problems most of the time.

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W.C.

answers from Lexington on

It could very likely be allergies. Especially if his eyes and/or throat are itchy too.

appt w/ENT is a great idea

Good luck!

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E.M.

answers from Louisville on

talk to the doctor. i have this sometimes its water or just wax. use a q tip to see if anything comes out

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P.O.

answers from Memphis on

Does your son have allergies? My son was a premmie along with being red-headed and fair complexion. He inherited allergies from his father. Since my son couldn't describe the itching, his dad understood. His allergies made his nose, eyes, throat and ears itch. When his throat itched, it made a funny sound (like a little snort). He was constantly rubbing his nose. After years of a runny nose and itching, he was tested for allergies at 5 and began weekly allergy shots. After a while, the shots worked and he rarely has problems. He is now 25 and very healthy.

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R.D.

answers from Jackson on

I have itchy ears. I have been fighting this for years. The doctor said it is dry skin condition and gave me a steroid creme that I use when it flares up (does not itch all the time, but when it does I want to grab the Q-tips...which, by the way, makes it worse). I use the steroid creme only when needed. It helps alot. The doctor has also given me drops, but they were a pain to remember to put in and the relief was only temp. If you want to go the natural route I would try alfalfa tablets. this is a natural way to help with eczema...although it is very hard to get a 5 year old to swallow these tablets. good luck...I know you son it miserable.

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