Is there a doctor in the house? (Yes, it’s one of these)

holdingoutforagptiltheendofthenight · 2022-12-01T18:39:19+00:00

know MN hates these types of posts but please bear with me: It’s past 6pm on a Thursday so GP is closed and I have 3 small children in bed so trying to work out what to do for the best/if this is urgent or simply something that needs a walk-in centre tomorrow (or not even). My 2 year old has had a fever for 3 days and a shocking cough/lots of snot etc (delightful). Yesterday evening (it’s always the evening when everything is closed isn’t it) he started to cry a LOT about his ear hurting which he’s never done before. There was no visible issue/he said he hadn’t put anything in it and I was alone with all 3 juggling bathtime so I thought it best to assess when DH came home an hour later. By then he was asleep. He didn’t mention his ear at all today and was happy. At bathtime I noticed quite a lot of blood in his ear that wasn’t there before. Now I’m worried because Dr Google seems to think that’s v concerning but I am unclear on the level of concern as generally he seems to be getting better and he is saying his ear does not hurt? I tried to clean it gently though and he wouldn’t let me so perhaps it does still hurt… If anyone has experience please advise! not an AIBU more of a WWYD and I apologise for posting for traffic

TigerRag · 01/12/2022 18:41

Call 111?

Original poster

holdingoutforagptiltheendofthenight · 01/12/2022 18:42

I honestly think 111 is utter bullshit. I have never had an appropriate response to them. I am always just sent to a and e and a and e have, without fail, told me I should not be there.

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KeepYaHeadUp · 01/12/2022 18:43

Yep, call 111. Get it assessed even if he's not complaining now. One of the kids at school was hospitalised this week with an ear infection. Could be nothing but get then opinion of someone who knows what they're talking about

KeepYaHeadUp · 01/12/2022 18:44

holdingoutforagptiltheendofthenight · 01/12/2022 18:42

I honestly think 111 is utter bullshit. I have never had an appropriate response to them. I am always just sent to a and e and a and e have, without fail, told me I should not be there.

Is this after a GP callback?

1234IDeclareAPeanutWar · 01/12/2022 18:44

That happened to me as a child and it would be a burst ear drum from it rupturing after it being buldging with infection, albeit bacterial or viral.
They tend not to give AB's for it now anyway. 111 will suggest A&E but that's because blood in the ear can be because of head or neck trauma but it sounds very much like the result of a cold.

If it was my child I'd probably wait until morning but only you know your child.

1234IDeclareAPeanutWar · 01/12/2022 18:45

I think an urgent treatment centre would be more appropriate than A&E, if you're going to go anywhere.

willingtolearn · 01/12/2022 18:46

111.nhs.uk/

111 online can be a good alternative - same system

miceonabranch · 01/12/2022 18:47

It sounds as though the eardrum has perforated. Ds2 had this when he had an infection. He did need antibiotics, but was okay overnight. Perhaps you could contact the GP first thing in the morning as long as he doesn't worsen.

Somuchgoo · 01/12/2022 18:47

1234IDeclareAPeanutWar · 01/12/2022 18:44

That happened to me as a child and it would be a burst ear drum from it rupturing after it being buldging with infection, albeit bacterial or viral.
They tend not to give AB's for it now anyway. 111 will suggest A&E but that's because blood in the ear can be because of head or neck trauma but it sounds very much like the result of a cold.

If it was my child I'd probably wait until morning but only you know your child.

I'd do the same.

My eldest had an eardrum rupture. The level of pain hugely reduced once it went. It definitely needs seeing, and proudly antibiotics, but given the time and that he's asleep, I'd wait until the morning personally.

I certainly wouldn't be wanting to sit around for half the night in A&E with a sleepy toddler unless it was absolutely essential.

girlmom21 · 01/12/2022 18:47

I'd assume his ear drum has burst. Maybe see a pharmacist if you don't want to call 111, but they could get you an out of hours GP appointment.

Pleasecreateausername13 · 01/12/2022 18:47

I’d rather A&E tell me I shouldn’t be there than run the risk that my child had something seriously wrong with them.

LakieLady · 01/12/2022 18:48

holdingoutforagptiltheendofthenight · 01/12/2022 18:42

I honestly think 111 is utter bullshit. I have never had an appropriate response to them. I am always just sent to a and e and a and e have, without fail, told me I should not be there.

Same here. The only time they didn't was when I phoned for DP because he was really short of breath for hours, and they said we'd get a call back within an hour.

He looked bloody awful and was getting worse, so I didn't wait and took him to A&E. An hour later, he died of a heart attack.

YouLookinSusBro · 01/12/2022 18:50

Just ring 111, better safe than sorry. Although 111 tend to err on the side of caution with children, better that than the other way round

Hibernationsetting · 01/12/2022 18:51

111 work off an algorithm. If you say you have an under 5 with blood coming from his ear, you’ll go to A&E. The moment you answer yes to those questions, that’s where they will send you.

personally, I’d give some calpol and monitor with a view to the GP in the morning.

Original poster

holdingoutforagptiltheendofthenight · 01/12/2022 18:52

Thanks for input everyone.

as a follow up question to everyone who is saying perforated ear drum - are ear infections contagious? One of my other children has exactly the same cough/cold do I worry about him also having an ear infection and get them both seen in the morning by gp/walk in, or just this one?

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Original poster

holdingoutforagptiltheendofthenight · 01/12/2022 18:52

LakieLady · 01/12/2022 18:48

Same here. The only time they didn't was when I phoned for DP because he was really short of breath for hours, and they said we'd get a call back within an hour.

He looked bloody awful and was getting worse, so I didn't wait and took him to A&E. An hour later, he died of a heart attack.

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What the fuck I’m so sorry

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girlmom21 · 01/12/2022 18:53

holdingoutforagptiltheendofthenight · 01/12/2022 18:52

Thanks for input everyone.

as a follow up question to everyone who is saying perforated ear drum - are ear infections contagious? One of my other children has exactly the same cough/cold do I worry about him also having an ear infection and get them both seen in the morning by gp/walk in, or just this one?

They're not contagious. They're built up pressure from the virus. They won't do anything about a child without an obvious infection or perforation so no point with the other one.

Original poster

holdingoutforagptiltheendofthenight · 01/12/2022 19:10

girlmom21 · 01/12/2022 18:53

They're not contagious. They're built up pressure from the virus. They won't do anything about a child without an obvious infection or perforation so no point with the other one.

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Thank you!

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Dontaskdontget · 01/12/2022 19:10

I called 111 for exactly the same symptoms for DD. It took them about 4-6 hrs to call back BUT when they did they arranged us an immediate appointment at a nearby cottage hospital that is only available to prebooked appointments, I had no idea there was even a hospice there. We drove there at 11pm and had strong antibiotics within 30 minutes. DD started improving extremely quickly.

Your child obviously has an ear infection which must be extremely painful please get him seen asap. To leave it untreated is serious neglect. You may think that “111 is utter bullshit” but your child has a bleeding ear and mine does not…

Somuchgoo · 01/12/2022 19:17

He is sleeping. It's not "serious neglect" to wait until morning. It's sensible parenting.

Original poster

holdingoutforagptiltheendofthenight · 01/12/2022 19:18

Here are some photos. I can’t tell if it’s pus as well - is this the sort of bleeding for a perforation?

will the perforation heal on its own?

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Original poster

holdingoutforagptiltheendofthenight · 01/12/2022 19:22

Dontaskdontget · 01/12/2022 19:10

I called 111 for exactly the same symptoms for DD. It took them about 4-6 hrs to call back BUT when they did they arranged us an immediate appointment at a nearby cottage hospital that is only available to prebooked appointments, I had no idea there was even a hospice there. We drove there at 11pm and had strong antibiotics within 30 minutes. DD started improving extremely quickly.

Your child obviously has an ear infection which must be extremely painful please get him seen asap. To leave it untreated is serious neglect. You may think that “111 is utter bullshit” but your child has a bleeding ear and mine does not…

His ear was very painful for a period of 30-60 minutes last night but has not hurt him since. His ear has bled - past tense. There is dried blood there. It’s not an ongoing current situation that requires me to drag him out of bed and leave my 3m old EBF baby (or drag him to A and E). Jesus wept

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Original poster

holdingoutforagptiltheendofthenight · 01/12/2022 19:22

Somuchgoo · 01/12/2022 19:17

He is sleeping. It's not "serious neglect" to wait until morning. It's sensible parenting.

Thank you

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MrsPnut · 01/12/2022 19:26

If he’s asleep then I’d leave him for now, don’t let him get water in the ear and call the GP for advice in the morning. Once the eardrum has perforated then all the infection is able to drain out and the pressure is relieved.

username8888 · 01/12/2022 19:27

Perforations as a rule heal on their own. Please don't poke around cleaning out the blood with a cotton bud. Its very rare to have scarring on the eardrum following healing, but contact the GP next week to just check for healing. If he gets worse or spikes a fever, get advice from a walk in centre sooner. Don't allow water to get in the ear until its healed.