Is there anything else I can do to help DS's sore ear? He's in agony.

[GingerNutts]

DS is 13 and was asleep but just got up again and is sobbing in pain at a sore ear. We saw the DR today who said there was pus in his ear canal and gave antibiotics. She also said he had a small cut on his ear which was causing redness and swelling so cream for that.

He's had his antibiotic twice so far along with paracetamol/ibuprofen but hes in so much pain now I don't know what else to do for him.

His ear is swollen and sticking out from his head and is sore to touch or lie on. He doesn't like heat applied to it. Not sure if there's any point ringing out of hours as he's only just on day 1 of antibiotics. No walk in clinics here.

Something cold?

ring 111.
its always good to consult health services, if only for reassurance, when looking after someone else who is unwell.

the burden of being responsible for someone else's welfare can add to the stress of the situation, esp a child/ vulnerable person.
ring them, that's what they are for.
good luck.

Sorry should have said we are in N.Ireland so no 111 here only OOH or A&E at this time.

Suggested cold pack but he won't let anything touch his ear.

He's got a good pain threshold so it must be bad if he's crying :(

I think if he is sobbing with pain and his whole outer ear is red and swollen and has got worse since he saw a DR you should ring 111. He may need some intravenous antibiotics. He may not but ring to be on the safe side.

Sorry, just seen the no 111. I would take him to OOH or A and E.

Could you try ringing the out of hours doctor? They will either give you advice on what to do or tell you to bring him in...

Go to a and e as they can administer appropriate antibiotics.

However, while there ask if you can trickle warm.olive oil in. I get frequent ear infections and while waiting for the antibiotics to kick in I warm up olive oil, test temp.on inside of wrist so not too warm, drizzle into ear and get comfy lying down so oil can continue to trickle into ear canal, make a cotton wool plug to.pop in tip if ear, it will help alleviate pain.

Dr advised me warm or cold flannel. I found a warm hot water bottle relieved the pain.

Is his ear red? What's causing it to stick out - is there swelling behind the ear? Might be worth looking at the symptoms of mastoiditis. Hope he starts to improve soon, ear ache is awful.

If he's in that much pain I'd consult medical help again. They may be able to admit him to hospital for stronger pain relief. That's what I'd do x Good luck - poor boy! Sounds absolutely awful!!

I suffered with ear infections badly as a child. I'm amazed they haven't given him a wick, it's like a tube of cotton wool inside the ear that you soak with eardrops it holds the drops in place next to the infected canal iyswim. It might be worth asking whoever you see next about that.

If he can bear a warm flannel or wheat bag anywhere on that side of his face and neck, it might help.

Sometimes gentle jaw movements can help, or sucking a boiled sweet, or sipping a warm drink.

Has he taken any paracetamol or painkillers? Antibiotics aren't painkillers, so its worth taking those if the pain is bad.

As pp said, I swear by warm oil (usually almond but olive is fine) poured into the ear with cotton wool plug. Make sure the oil is skin temp by putting it in inside of wrist (like testing milk temp for babies). Add a hot water bottle that he can hold on the side on the ear (best covered or wrapped in something soft). It is genuinely so soothing. Worked wonders on me as a child and also on both my kids.

The pain relief is helping slightly he's still wincing but keeps saying he's ok. The Dr today said not to keep putting oil in his ear as we had been doing that.

Just googled Mastoiditis and he does have the red, sticking out ear and pain behind it so if the pain relief hasn't settled it within the hour then I'll drive him to A&E or ring OOH and get advice.

Thank you all.

Hope he feels better soon GingerNutts

shouldhavecalleditoatabix glad there are at least 3 of us that admit to putting oil in ears!

Do not be fobbed off. A relative ended up deaf due to mastoiditis that was not treated properly.

How did the rest of the night go, @GingerNutts ?

You lot who can tolerate oil in your ear on a good day let alone on a bad one are all weird as hell I find it painful even without an infection, there's no way I'd do it when I didn't have one!

Sorry, meant to write that's no way i'd put oil in my ear if I had an infection, it's too painful even when I don't!

@joyce it's not so popular now but as a kid I think everyone did it? It genuinely has worked for earache on my kids and with a warm bottle on the ear is genuinely soothing. That said though, having read more it seems clear the infection is far worse than a simple earache and needs medical intervention. I'm all for home remedies for minor ailments but I certainly know when to turn things over to the professionals.

How is he? My son had mastoiditis aged 2 and the description of his ear being swollen and sticking right out sounds just like that. We ended up in hosptial for 5 days. Hope he's ok now

Also I got fobbed off by 2 visits at the docs telling me he was teething ( I know your son is older) had to tale him straight to a and e once the left side of his face - eye and mouth started drooping. So don't be fobbed off.

He slept not long after I stopped posting and woke early this morning in pain again but took his antibiotics and pain relief and it settled back down again. Redness of the ear itself has settled although I do still think the back of it is a little redder than I'd like. Will try to get a picture.

DS insisting it's not as sore today but I am monitoring him and will be getting him seen this evening if the pain picks up again like yesterday (not too bad through the day then by night was in tears).

First pic is of normal ear, 2nd is sore ear and third is from behind to show how it's sticking out.

Doesn't look so red in the pics but you can see where the redness is. Third pic is as centred as possible to show just how much it sticks out.

He's not in as much pain now so I'm still monitoring.

If you sre still concerned, do take him to the doctors. I just wanted to mention in case you're not doing this already, that he shouldn't lie flat, the pain is worse when horizontal so prop him up with some pillows at night.

Just realized his ear is pretty yuck inside (sorry) but that's the result of his eczema and his ear being 'wet' this morning as he says. So I'm assuming some discharge.