URGENT Q: can you take a baby with an ear infection on a plane???

[artichokes]

Am posting from abroad where our holiday has been marred by 1yr old DD getting an ear infection. She is on antibiotics and a bit better. We are due to fly home tonight and I am desperate to get her back to her own bed and routine. I also really want to come home. But our hosts say we could damage her ear.

Please, please give advice. Have 10mins on the internet.

[FoghornLeghorn]

Oh no - your poor DD. Mine sufferred terribly with ear infections up until about age 2.

Anyway .... I don't think it would be advisable, I should imagine getting on a plane with an ear infection would be highly painful for most people, let alone a small child.
FWIW, my mum burst her ear drum once and had to cancel her hols because doc said no to flying

[elesbells]

a few years ago my dd had an ear infection while we were in cyprus and we couldnt fly home until we had a letter from a doctor to say it was ok. do you have a rep where you are?

[flatmouse]

I'd have thought no - can u ring nhs direct and ask? is there a local medical centre/doctor where you can check?

[TootyFrooty]

Don't do it. I flew with an ear infection a few years ago. I have never ever known pain like it (even childbirth...)

[prettybird]

You do need to see a docotr. if her ear drum has already ruptured, you'd probably be OK - and likewise, if the antibiotics are already wroking and the eardrum is no longer inflamed, you should be OK too. But for both scenarios, you need a docotr to use his wee "ear" telescope thingy to look into the ear.

[prettybird]

Do you have insurance?

[artichokes]

Thanks for advice. i guess we will have to stay. Total nightmare. We are in dordoigne and our hosts are leaving tonight so we will have nowehre to stay. Now got to rush around trying to find a hotel that will take us in mid August without reservation .

[artichokes]

WE COULD GO BACK TO THE DOCTOR WHO GAVE HER THE ANTIBIOTICS (oops sorry for caps). It is miles away though. Why, why, why did this have to happen on our first holiday? Total nightmare. At least we do have insurance.

[expatinscotland]

No

[flatmouse]

Is train/ferry an option for getting back?

[LIZS]

I get her checked again, if she's been on ab's for a few days the worst of the pressure from any fluid build up should have gone down and she may be fine. You'd need a dr's note to claim form insurance anyway, is there not one nearer to you ?

[prettybird]

My ds got an ear infection at 17 months just before going off on a skiing holiday. We had to change all our arrangements to go by train/Eurostar. It is a real bummer.

You do need to see a docotr - any doctor. If she is still not fit to fly, why not then ring the insurance company and see if you can make altarnative arrangements to come back by train?