Is this an ear infection? Posting for traffic as don't trust gp..

[MrMakersFartyParty]

Hello! So sorry, but I'm a bit desperate as my gp closes for a half day Thursdays.
My son was treated for an ear infection 10 days ago with a 7 day course of antibiotics. He still isn't sleeping well and is holding his ear, this appeared today, but I can't tell if it's wax or not. I actually wiped his ear out last night so I'm unsure.
The gp has refused to see him today because they said the antibiotics will have worked and I need to give it more time, but I don't really trust my gp as they have missed many things with my children in the past and been dismissive. I am moving practices ASAP.
My car is in the garage but if necessary I will take him to the walk in on the bus, I just don't want to go over the top. He has no temp but I can tell something is bothering him but could be teething.
Again I know I shouldn't post on aibu.. Sorry.

Not a GP but my ear is currently seeping similarly delightful pus. I'm now on my second course of antibiotics as the first lot did fail to clear it completely. I'd get him back to a Dr personally.

That's nasty!

If you can, I would get him to A & E if the GP is saying nothing is wrong.

Personally without a temp I'd see if his body can sort it out with the anti-bs he's had.

If he develops a temperature or seems much more ill in himself, then take him back.

Thanks both! It's sort of sticky but it does look wet further in, but I will die of embarrassment if they say "erm that's wax!" so does it look like pus? It seems odd that it appeared over night.

My dd has had perforated eardrums many times and that doesn’t look quite the same. Hers are more like snot, much more of it and it stinks! I’d say his ears are blocked and the wax is just oozing. Certainly not an A and E job fgs.

A walk-in centre would be better than A&E for this. Do you have one nearby?

Give Calpol if he is in pain and see if it passes. No temperature suggests it might not be too bad. Looks more like was than pus to me.

Were they antibiotic drops? I'm about 90% sure that when I had those they said it could cause an increase in ear wax so maybe its that? If you still have them check the leaflet and see what it says? I actually booked an appointment with the nurse at my GP surgery because about a week or so after I took the drops I woke up and was completely deaf in that ear - turned out it was wax

But, I had a recurrent ear infection, treated with drops, then another two course of drops, then tablets, then more drops over a total of about 6 months, because it never properly went away from the first treatments so it is possible for it not to be treated completely the first time (and I did use the drops completely as instructed). I'd keep an eye on it if he seems well, maybe really carefully wipe that up (making sure not to poke actually inside the ear, just that bit we can see) and see if it comes back?

Looks like wax to me

Yeah a walk in centre WOULD be better actually.......

That does look like wax

At first I thought perforated ear drum but the fluid from dd’s ear was less wax looking and more runny with a little blood when it happened to her .
I’d clean it gently just round the outside (not inside ) and then see what he’s like tomorrow

My youngest DS gets lots of ear infections and perforated ear drums and his always looks like thick snot...

He does get more ear wax after treatment.

Looks like wax to me too. GP sounds crap though - its not unusual for infections not to clear esp if they didnt do a culture first to see which antibiotic would be appropriate. I think you should get someone to look in his ears.

Looks like wax to me. My son's ears look like this (not envy)

I would get him to A & E if the GP is saying nothing is wrong.
A&E really??

Also have you any idea how busy A&E is at this time of year?

I was taken aback at the first few posts! That just looks like a normal waxy ear in my house- I have to issue reminders about washing them!

After a cold or infection, it often seems to increase for a day or two.

Are you giving calpol, nurofen etc if it’s still sore?

You don’t trust GP so you ask mumsnet which is clearly full of medical experts?

Could you ask a pharmacist?

As I understand it, they don’t necessarily give antibiotics for ear infections so even if it is still infected, it will more than likely sort itself.

But looks like gorgeous wax to me (sporner!).

all I can suggest is you smell your son, if he smells really bad you know, but post infection there will be more wax, my son used to get so many infections that I sometimes smelt them coming before he got them, once brought him to gp she said nothing in ear no redness less than 20 mins later in car he had yellow discharge running down side of face, the puss was generally in his case a lighter yellow and more runny

pottering along described it well thick snot

It looks like wax.

It looks like wax.

It could need a different type of antibiotic. My daughter had an infection last year that just didn’t clear up. They then swabbed it, sent it off for testing and prescribed drops to get rid of that particular bacteria. They usually start out with broad spectrum antiobiotcs first then go for stronger stuff if if it doesn’t clear up.