Kids' corner · Comic No 6
Clara and the earache
A comic to explain to children what happens when an ear hurts: we look, we understand, then we treat and watch.
- 2 pages
- To read together
- Earache
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Read the comic text in English
Page 1 — Understanding the boo-boo
1. Ouch!
- The child: “My ear hurts…”
- The mother: “We'll look at it together.”
2. At the clinic
- Clara: “Hello! I'm Clara. We're going to find out why your ear hurts.”
- The child: “Okay.”
3. Taking stock
- Clara: “How long has it hurt? Do you have a fever? Can you hear well?”
- The mother: “He's been complaining since last night.”
4. Looking in the ear
- Clara: “I'm going to look in your ear gently. It may tickle a little.”
- The child: “Okay…”
5. Not always an ear infection
- Clara: “An earache isn't always an ear infection. It can also be earwax or irritation.”
- The pictures show: ear infection, earwax, irritation.
6. Now we understand
- Clara: “The examination helps us see what is causing the pain and what to do next.”
- A sticker says: “Brave ear mission!”
“Understanding an earache helps children feel confident.”
Page 2 — Treating and watching
1. Relief first
- Clara: “First, we want to help you feel more comfortable.”
2. Sometimes, we watch and wait
- Clara: “Depending on the examination, we can sometimes watch how things go before doing anything else.”
3. Sometimes, a treatment
- Clara: “The treatment depends on what we see during the examination.”
- The pictures show: drops or a medication.
4. At home
- Clara: “At home, we mainly watch for pain, fever, discharge or if you feel less well.”
- The board shows: pain, fever, discharge, general condition.
5. When to come back?
- Clara: “Come back if the pain gets worse, if the fever persists, if there is discharge, or if the child is more listless.”
6. Time to go
- Clara: “Well done! You were very brave.”
- The child: “Thank you, Clara!”
“Knowing what to watch for helps children and their parents feel confident.”
For parents: good to know
- Most ear infections follow a cold. An ear infection does not always need medical treatment, and an antibiotic is not always necessary: if the child is doing relatively well, the health professional may suggest waiting 24 to 48 hours while watching.
- For pain, acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help. Before 6 months of age, talk to a health professional first.
- See a health professional if the child is crying a lot, if the ear is draining or if you have the impression that the child is in pain. Also consult if the fever has lasted more than 48 hours, if the child vomits repeatedly, is very drowsy or irritable, still has pain after 2 days of pain treatment, or seems to hear less well a few weeks after an ear infection.
- Call 911 if the situation seems serious and urgent. Info-Santé 811 lets you reach a nurse 24 hours a day; the service is free and confidential.
Sources (in French): Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Mal d’oreille (otite) chez l’enfant (updated February 17, 2026); Canadian Paediatric Society, L’otite (updated March 2022); INSPQ, Service Info-Santé. Consulted on October 10, 2026.
Ear infection, earache: see us for a minor emergency → · Earwax plug: ear irrigation →
Psst… a little secret from Clara
In the comics, Clara puts on her scrubs to tell the story of the care. In real life, Clara is the website's virtual assistant: the clinic's nurses and health professionals are the ones who provide care. Clara is here to guide you around the website!
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Clara's comics are intended to inform children and their parents. They do not replace a consultation or an assessment by a health professional. In an emergency, call 911. For health advice, call Info-Santé 811. Page published on October 16, 2026.