Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Kids have earaches, we’re in Spain :(

28 replies

Pringlesaremyspiritanimal · 21/08/2022 20:19

Been on holiday in Spain since Weds, staying at a private villa with a pool. Everyone’s been swimming for hours each day but now three of our kids have developed earaches.

I've administered paracetamol and hot compresses. Is this enough? What else would help? We fly home Thursday night so I want everyone to be able to enjoy the rest of the week.

OP posts:
tinyrobot2 · 21/08/2022 20:20

I had awful eachache in Spain a few years ago - I googled how to say it and went into a Farmacia and they game me some very good ear drops which helped clear it up in a few days.

MinaN · 21/08/2022 20:24

I swam competitively for years as i child so know the pain!! you could try a few drops of warm olive oil in ears- cotton wool or tissue to help it stop coming out! It softens the earwax and also gets rid of some of the discomfort. best of luck!

gettingalife · 21/08/2022 20:24

The local pharmacies can give you eardrops that a Dr would have to prescribe here. Pop in and explain and hopefully the children will be fine in a couple of days. Defo avoid the pool tomorrow though.

Original poster
Pringlesaremyspiritanimal · 21/08/2022 20:24

tinyrobot2 · 21/08/2022 20:20

I had awful eachache in Spain a few years ago - I googled how to say it and went into a Farmacia and they game me some very good ear drops which helped clear it up in a few days.

That’s good to know. I’ll see how they’re all doing in the morning and head to a Farmacia if no better.

OP posts:
Fifiellz · 21/08/2022 20:25

I'm in Turkey and got swimmers ear - just started to turn into an infection.

I went to a pharmacy and they gave me antibiotic ear drops over the counter for 3 euros, 12 hrs later it's fine. I'm sure Spain will have similar.

Mortonpup · 21/08/2022 20:25

Yep to the pharmacy you go. They're great

Original poster
Pringlesaremyspiritanimal · 21/08/2022 20:26

These are brilliant tips, thank you! Knew mumsnet would come through 😊

OP posts:
Changednamesorry · 21/08/2022 20:28

I live in Spain.

2 options - 1) go to the pharmacy
2)call the local health centre and a paediatrician will see them, almost certainly the same morning and probably within the hour.
If you PM me what part of Spain you are in (local town is enough) I will call the health centre for you .
In Spain all minors have a right to urgent healthcare regardless of immigration status and a Spanish parent would likely take the child to the paediatrician for this immediately tomorrow morning in case antibiotics were needed. They usually open at 0800.

PineForestsAndSunshine · 21/08/2022 20:29

MinaN · 21/08/2022 20:24

I swam competitively for years as i child so know the pain!! you could try a few drops of warm olive oil in ears- cotton wool or tissue to help it stop coming out! It softens the earwax and also gets rid of some of the discomfort. best of luck!

Sounds more likely it's an outer ear infection than wax build up (fellow ex-swimmer!) Olive oil is great for keeping the ear canals healthy and preventing outer ear infections - aka swimmer's ear - but it won't help once an infection has set up home in there.

You need the pharmacy!

Titsywoo · 21/08/2022 20:34

I got this on holiday in Spain years ago - pharmacy were great and actually syringed my ear for me there and then. Made sure to stop diving and swimming underwater for the rest of the holiday though!

Original poster
Pringlesaremyspiritanimal · 21/08/2022 20:37

Wow! What excellent healthcare

OP posts:
Tronkmanton · 21/08/2022 20:37

If you do end up at the doctors, don’t forget the DC’s EHIC cards- or it will cost about £70 to see Dr.

Eixample · 21/08/2022 20:41

They’ve recently tightened up on selling antibiotic ear/eye drops without a prescription so you may not be able to buy them over the counter. Look for a smaller pharmacy (because the pharmacist behind the counter is more likely to be the owner) and you may still get lucky.
If the pain suddenly stops definitely go to the dr even if you have to pay out of pocket as it’s likely that the eardrum has perforated.

BellaBoo20 · 21/08/2022 20:45

Get some Ear Calm (or equivalent) if you can...

It treats early infections and has anti-inflammatory too xx

Eixample · 21/08/2022 20:45

Although changednamesorry is right, it’s probably easy enough for a child to see the Dr. We were on holiday in a different area a few weeks ago, called the local health center (public system) at 10am and were given an appointment with a paediatrician for an hour later.

MinaN · 21/08/2022 20:46

Best to visit a pharmacy if seems like an infection as would be quite painful to make it back home if you are flying!

BellaBoo20 · 21/08/2022 20:46

BellaBoo20 · 21/08/2022 20:45

Get some Ear Calm (or equivalent) if you can...

It treats early infections and has anti-inflammatory too xx

You can buy OTC x

Original poster
Pringlesaremyspiritanimal · 21/08/2022 20:50

Brilliant, thank you all. We’ll head to the pharmacy first thing tomorrow. Think we have one expired ehic for one kid but for the other two, but we do have travel insurance.

OP posts:
Changednamesorry · 21/08/2022 21:11

Ok RE EHIC you have a month to produce it so even if you don't have it now then you can still be seen for free and provide EHIC within a month. Regardless, technically under Spanish law as they are minors there is no charge but sometimes you have to argue that one(which I can do for you if you need).

See PM I sent you my number.

DelilahBucket · 21/08/2022 21:11

I find ibuprofen better for earache if you have any. It can be given with paracetamol.

JoeMaplin · 21/08/2022 21:21

We had this in menorca, we needed to see a doctor, but it was actually the same cost for the doctor to come out to our villa, which she did at 10pm. 2 children got antibiotics by mouth and drops too. The other child didn’t get the infection till we were home and got a perforated eardrum and a lot of pain, as uk gp wouldn’t give anything.

bingotime · 21/08/2022 21:29

Changednamesorry · 21/08/2022 20:28

I live in Spain.

2 options - 1) go to the pharmacy
2)call the local health centre and a paediatrician will see them, almost certainly the same morning and probably within the hour.
If you PM me what part of Spain you are in (local town is enough) I will call the health centre for you .
In Spain all minors have a right to urgent healthcare regardless of immigration status and a Spanish parent would likely take the child to the paediatrician for this immediately tomorrow morning in case antibiotics were needed. They usually open at 0800.

What a lovely offer!

mac1974 · 21/08/2022 22:45

We had this last week in Spain. The pharmacist gave us some ear drops. They were only about 4euros. They were called Otix. I was worried as my DD was complaining about ear pain and we were due to fly back the next day but these seemed to really help
It's only a small bottle though so you might need one per child. The pharmacist said they were slightly stronger than the normal ear cleaning type ones.
Hope you get sorted.

Quincythequince · 22/08/2022 00:14

Pringlesaremyspiritanimal · 21/08/2022 20:19

Been on holiday in Spain since Weds, staying at a private villa with a pool. Everyone’s been swimming for hours each day but now three of our kids have developed earaches.

I've administered paracetamol and hot compresses. Is this enough? What else would help? We fly home Thursday night so I want everyone to be able to enjoy the rest of the week.

If you have access to alcohol (70% rubbing) and white vinegar, mix them 1:1 and put a few drops in each year a few times a day.

Swipe left for the next trending thread