Does ear infection on holiday require antibiotics?

[Eyores]

Posting here for traffic as hoping for quick response, advice needed

We are on holiday in Turkey. My 10 year old - who has been in pool every day - has ear pain and a temp of 38

There is a hotel dr. From my previous experience of hotel doctors here, she will be prescribed antibiotics and other medications if I take her - usually totalling at least more then travel insurance excess - as they are always quick to prescribe, sometimes involving a taxi ride to “a clinic” somewhere which costs more.

I am, of course, happy to take her if it will help but I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t be prescribed antibiotics in UK for ear infection. We fly in a couple of days if that makes any difference , and she is feeling quite grotty today.

So, dr today or paracetamol and wait for her to recover? It isn’t so much cost it is not wanting to give her medication unnecessarily but also want to do the right thing in case being away/flying makes it worse

[Seeline]

If it's a bacterial infection (which swimming in a pool daily could cause) it will probably need ABs. Don't know how you can tell whether it's bacterial or viral infection. I would go to the Dr and take what they offer. You don't want to end up with a burst eardrum. I don't know when you are due home, but flying with an ear infection can be very painful.

[Hoppinggreen]

My DC have been prescribed antibiotics here in The UK for an ear infection
I think it would be better to get it checked if the pain is severe or yiur child is generally feverish or unwell

[TeeBee]

Of course we get antibiotics in the UK for ear infections. I was plagued with them as a child and finally ended up with perforated eardrums. My son often gets ear infections from pools because he spends his time submerged in the water. If she's running a temperature, you need to get her some antibiotics. Do you want her going on a plane with an ear infection?? Have you tried a normal pharmacy though? Some countries can give antibiotics without a prescription. I've done this before with my son.

[OnOldOlympus]

If she’s been swimming it’s probably more likely to be an outer ear infection rather than an inner ear infection. In the U.K. an outer ear infection would normally be treated with either acidic or antibiotic ear drops rather than oral antibiotics (at least in the first instance), but they should be able to tell by looking in the ear whether the outer ear is infected or whether it’s a middle/inner ear problem. I’d definitely get her seen though, just because if there is an inner ear infection the pressure differences while flying might make it more uncomfortable and could even cause her eardrum to burst. Info on ear infections here: www.nhs.uk/conditions/ear-infections/

[Smartsub]

I think she would be given antibiotics for an ear infection at home. I've just been prescribed a course for minor ear pain which is quite obviously not an infection "just in case" and coincidentally, a colleague with a different GP is currently taking them for an ear infection.

[readingallthebooks]

Exact same thing happened to my DD on a holiday abroad. We did go to the dr and get antibiotics, definitely go for the appointment and get the AB. Don't even risk leaving it longer

[uggmum]

I had the same issue when I was in France.
I was able to get antibiotics from a pharmacy in a couple of minutes.

I'm not sure if that service is available in Turkey but worth a try

[nearlyspringyay]

We have had this twice abroad, one resort we're in 90% of the kids had an infection! One in Greece and once in France, it wasn't expensive.

I'd def take her and get antibiotics.

[Eyores]

Thank you all!

I wasn’t sure about the antibiotics as one of my DC had frequent ear infections when younger and I was told that they don’t prescribe antibiotics for ear infections routinely, DC only had them if eardrum ruptured.

We did go the Dr here. We were driven straight to a clinic to see a paediatrician, who examined DD and confirmed that she does have an infection in sore ear.

She said that DD would be given intravenous antibiotics, anti sickness medication through a drip and “a mask with medicine in for her asthma”. (DD does have mild asthma but there is no indication at all that she is having a flare up or has any chest problems.)

I said I would like her to have oral antibiotics instead. The paediatrician agreed to this straight away and wasn’t pushy about the IV option, which I was relieved about as it was my worry that we would walk into a situation like that.

I am confident that I made the right decision for DD. She isn’t worrying unwell but I will obviously keep an eye on her.

I don’t think it is cynical of me to suggest that the first treatment plan was based on making money rather then best approach for DD. I had previously noticed some trip advisor reviews where some Brits raves about being looked after by local clinic who kept them in and put them on drips after they got sickness bugs/chest infections etc, so I felt uneasy about that

The bill came to £275 as it was (£175 for oral antibiotics, ibuprofen and ear drops) so I dread to think what it would be if we’d gone for IV option!

at least she has antibiotics though, is feeling a bit better after ibuprofen and will hopefully be a lot better tomorrow

[Eyores]

I have got another question though.. the antibiotics are a bottle of powder, what am I supposed to do with this?! 😬

[Seeline]

You have to make it up with water and give it a good shake. You will need to know the correct amount of water though - are there any instructions?

[Sqeebling]

Yes I had this on holiday - you can use ear drop antibiotics or even eye drop antibiotics. I used the latter and it was fine. It happened from the pool because I'd cleaned my ears with a cotton bud so lost all the natural protection from any ear wax

[Eyores]

@Seeline - it says 2 x 1.5 on bottle and then under that in brackets is says 7.5ml - when I saw her writing it in pharmacy I assumed it would be quite clear! But was wrong when I looked at it when we got back

the bottle itself does says 100ml on it, shall I put 100 ml of water in there and give it a good shake ?

[Sqeebling]

Can you post a photo of what it says on the bottle please

[Sqeebling]

I think it means mix 3mg of powder with 7.5ml of water ? So slightly more than double the amount

[Sqeebling]

Did the bottle come with a spoon and or a syringe

[Eyores]

like this..

[Eyores]

spoon @Sqeebling

[StarsandStones]

I am assuming amoxicillin?

Is there maybe a line on the bottle? So you have to fill it up with water untill it reaches the line?
If this is the case: add a bit of water. Shake well. Add more water so you reach the line. Then shake again.
Shake again before administering. You should have a syringe or a special measuring cup/spoon to give the medication?
Check if it needs to be in the fridge as well!

[StarsandStones]

Seems to be amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, acid helps the amoxicillin.
Dosage depends also on the weight of the child... does she need 2 doses per day?

[Eyores]

I did find a line @StarsandStones , thank you! It looks like it is the right consistency now. Put in fridge as well as it is very hot here so it seemed like the best place for it. Not J especially cold fridge, it’s a mini one, but still colder than hotel room

[LetitiaLeghorn]

I've had a few ear infections recently and I've always been prescribed a steroid ear spray - Otomize. It's fantastic.

[ClaryFairchild]

So glad you went to the GP - hopefully the infection will be under control before you fly, the last thing you want is for you DD's eardrum to rupture during the flight.