Talk

Flip

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Children's health

Ear infection? OOH or wait til tomorrow/Monday?

8 replies

DIWhy · 15/12/2012 16:08

DD is complaining of a sore ear (since last night) and sore throat. She has a bad cold. Temp has been high since last night, checked it just now & it's 39.2 (having given calpol 3 hours ago) so I've given her nurofen.

Her ear is red but nothing coming out of it. Every now and again she cries due to the pain although she doesn't have a particular high pain threshold. Having looked at NHS & various other websites, they all say to let it ride & that normally it clears itself in about 72 hours & that they don't like giving antibiotics for it. Do I just let the poor thing suffer & hope the nurofen helps, or try and get her seen?

OP posts:

Report

HauntedLittleLunatic · 15/12/2012 16:13

I wouldn't be overly concerned about the ear. Drs round here don't give abs even if it is oozing with pus.

I would be concerned about a temp above 39 tho, particularly if you can't get it under control in the next hour or do.

Report

DIWhy · 15/12/2012 16:21

why haunted, because of risk of febrile convulsion? I think she nurofen is starting to work she seems a bit perkier already. will check her temp again in about half an hour & if it hasn't come down will call OOH

OP posts:

Report

PacificDogwood · 15/12/2012 16:24

Keep giving Nurofen for Kids at the dose appropriate for your DD's age, 3x/day. It is good at lowering fever AND as an antiinflammatory good for sore ears. You are right that current ENT advice is NOT to treat sore ears with antibiotic unless still sore after 3 days.

Febrile convulsions do not depend so much on how high a fever is but happen more commonly if a fever rises v fast IYKWIM. Often children become a bit 'twitchy' with a sudden high fever.

Get her seen if you are at all worried, but fever and ear pain should improve with Nurofen.

Report

PacificDogwood · 15/12/2012 16:26

Encourage her to drink too.

And consider Vicks/Olbas Oil or similar if she has a runny or blocked nose - clearing her nasal airway will help the ear to drain into the back of the throat too which helps with pain.

Good luck! Nought worse than unwell children...

Report

DIWhy · 15/12/2012 16:29

thank you. My youngest has had a febrile convulsion so I know what to look out for.

She's very good at drinking water although less so today due to sore throat. Will get the vicks, thanks for that tip

OP posts:

Report

DIYapprentice · 16/12/2012 11:57

When DS2 gets ear infections I would always have to dose with both calpol and nurofen to get his temperature down. Quite normal I think to need the double dose.

Report

DIYapprentice · 16/12/2012 11:58

Oh and put some vicks on her feet and put socks on, as well as on her chest and back. Sounds weird, but does work.

Report

DIWhy · 16/12/2012 13:44

nice name DIY

I've tried the vicks on feet before for a cough but she hates having any sort of stickiness on her!

Have been advised not to give nurofen because in the night she kept waking up with tummy ache. I can't get her to eat much either so definitely don't want to risk it.

Temp is down to 38.1 today which I normally wouldn't give Calpol for, but I have in order to reduce the pain rather than reduce the temp. However the temperature has only come down to 38...