DD has ear infection, do I need to take her to the doctor today?

[onlysomany]

DD has a painful ear. She's not in agony, but she says it hurts. It started yesterday and is worse this morning. She's had a cold for about a week, (not too bad, lots of sniffles) it seemed to be getting better.

Can this wait till our doctor is open tomorrow?

I'm assuming it can but neither of my DC have had ear infections before, I'm suddenly feeling very unsure of myself!

[onlysomany]

I've given calpol, a hot compress and she's been lying on the good ear.

[ADreadedSunnyDay]

Hi OP, I would go with Calpol and monitor. GP tomorrow although I believe antibiotics don't actually do much good, GP told me latest research shows antibiotics lessening the infection by on average half a day. They now only usually prescribe if both ears affected or a severe infection.

[LIZS]

I would just check her eardrum has not perforated, as that can give relief from pressure, is there any fluid?

[onlysomany]

No, no liquid at all.

Wouldn't a perforated eardrum hurt?

[icedcoffees]

It sounds like a blocked ear - maybe impacted wax? That can be very painful.

[onlysomany]

The doctor diagnosed her with glue ear a while back and suggested she tries blowing up balloons to try to help with the pressure and hopefully make a difference.

I'm not sure if it's made a difference but maybe as she's stopped complaining her ears hurt. They used to hurt a bit, and if she went underwater. Nothing like this acute pain though. It affected her hearing.

This seems to be to do with her cold, but I'm hoping it's somehow cleared the glue ear as she says she can hear everything loudly all of a sudden.

[sexesam]

Ok, slightly creepy cos my DD is exactly the same. Went to pharmacist as GP closed today which is what 111 website suggested. Pharmacist said ibuprofen today and tomorrow and if no improvement think about contacting GP.

[onlysomany]

@sexesam

Ok, slightly creepy cos my DD is exactly the same. Went to pharmacist as GP closed today which is what 111 website suggested. Pharmacist said ibuprofen today and tomorrow and if no improvement think about contacting GP.

I hope your DD feels better soon.

[hashbrownsandwich]

Without sounding arrogant, I have audiology qualifications. A perforation would normally be due to either a trauma (injury or sudden loud noise) but can't rule out that it could be. Again, most heal within a few months. It shouldn't cause any problems even if she does have it unless she gets further pain. Sounds to me like it could have been a Eustachian tube blockage which has finally found relief.

[1AngelicFruitCake]

I’m really interested in this as my husband struggles with Eustachian tube problems, why would her daughter suddenly hear a loud noise then relief just like that?

[onlysomany]

I'm curious too! I'll ask her about it again and see if she can tell me anything else about it.

She's been fine the rest of the day. Still sniffly, but no ear ache.

[Endeavormorse]

I’ve had a perforated eardrum twice from a very bad cold. The pain is horrendous with the build up of fluid. Eardrum bursts, pain goes then everything sounds really loud. Best to keep a bit of cotton wool in it until it heals up.
The relief from the pain was immense.

[1AngelicFruitCake]

That’s good, it’s awful when they’re ill.

[freeingNora]

It's going around DD ended up
at the out of hours last week having popped her ear drum with a sneeze. Let the gp have a look just to be sure

[hashbrownsandwich]

@1AngelicFruitCake

I’m really interested in this as my husband struggles with Eustachian tube problems, why would her daughter suddenly hear a loud noise then relief just like that?

If there was a blockage/air in the Eustachian tube it can be that when this decides to move there is a loud noise and then it clears.

One tip would be to hold the nose and close the mouth and gently 'blow'. I know it sounds like a wind up but it does help. Also, if a perforation is present you actually can feel the air coming out of the ear!

[1AngelicFruitCake]

Ok thank you for explaining and the tip 😊