Would appreciate some advice. Can't get a docs app til end of the week and just want to know if there's any risk either to my DC or to kids at nursery etc. Sorry a bit long, just giving some history....
DC is 13 months. About 8 weeks ago had an ear infection, gunky ear. Got emergency appt at docs (v large practice). The GP who was doing emergency apps that day is - in my opinion - not brilliant and I don't entirely trust her opinion. She said DC had a perforated eardrum, which was 'good' because the pressure build up of the infection had been released (we'd had no indication of infection before this point btw - no temperature or any obvious pain, until puss started to appear). She prescribed antibiotics and ear drops which we went away and gave. Ear gunk cleared up within 48 hours. A week or so later - a weekend - ear gunk appeared again. Had to go to out of hours docs. This doc told me that antibiotics previously prescribed would have cleared the infection, but we shouldn't have given ear drops as it is impotant to keep the ear dry. And therefore, we needed to just keep things dry and clean and just expect the puss to keep appearing for a while - 6-8 weeks.
So over the the next month or so, the puss would appear on and off and I didn't worry too much about it. Now it is 8 weeks since original infection. The pus is back after a two week break (on average there's been pus every 7 days or so and it always seems to coincide with weekends, hence no docs appt and then cleared up by Monday) and now it seems to smell a bit. No obvious pain (DC is fiddling with ear a bit but not seemingly in any pain). No temperature.
What is going on? How serious is a perforated ear drum? (I was given ZERO info about this and am now worried it may have a permanent effect). What should I be doing about this? I'll be seeing a different doctor later in the week but can't get an appt until Friday. Is there any long term risk to DC's hearing? Thank you!
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Children's health
Ear infections experts?
10 replies
SavoirFaire · 03/12/2012 22:41
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