Is this normal following infection?

[sleepysue22]

Dd is nearly a year old and just had an ear infection. She'd been unwell for over a week but wasn't sure what the issue was. GP had cleared her for throat and ear infection 🙄

Then lo and behold her ear started leaking gunk. She's had a course of antibiotics and does seem happier in herself. She's playing, laughing and alert during the day. However she is completely off her food and has been for the past two weeks. She's taking bottles thankfully but barely any food. Meals are now reduced to a cracker and a yoghurt (if I'm lucky). She's also sleeping way way more than usual. Daytime naps have gone from 1 hour to 2.5 and she's going to bed earlier in the evening and immediately falling asleep with no fuss. I should be glad but it's just not like her. Is this her body's way of recovering from the infection? Could there be a chance she's still unwell with it? She has woken a few times at night in tears and rubbing her ear but there's no fluid anymore.

I just want her to start eating properly again. We've struggled with weaning but just as things were improving she got sick and now we've taken 10 steps back. Does this sound normal?

Hi I have no medical background, but am a mum, and if this happened to my daughter I would get her checked again. I would also keep an eye on her temperature.

Thank you. She's never had a temperature even when her ear was weeping. It's incredibly hard to get a gp appointment round here. The first time I saw them we were totally fobbed off. The fact that she is happy and alert during the day makes me feel better but the eating, sleeping and seemingly occasional pain does worry me. I think I will have to try and see someone again but doubtful that it'll be before next week now.

I would ring first thing tomorrow and request an emergency appointment.

I'm not immediately concerned. She doesn't have a temperature and is active through the day. I guess what I'm asking is if anyone else dc have experienced lots of sleeping after infection/antibiotics?

The food issue is a worry but since she's having milk and still producing wet and dirty nappies I don't think the GP will take that into consideration.

I don’t recall my children losing their appetites or sleeping more after antibiotics although it was many years ago. It sounds like the infection may be lingering if she’s still rubbing her ear. Perhaps she needs another course of antibiotics. I would take her back to GP again.

In my experience is quite normal for toddlers who have recently been weaned and maybe struggled with it to go back to bottles when poorly. The sleeping more isn't unusual either, just the body fighting off the remainder of the infection. If she's okay in the day and drinking plenty I'd be reassured and just keep an eye on her OP.

Was she particularly upset or unwell prior to the fluid leakage? If so, her eardrum may have burst. This means that it doesn’t hurt as much, (after the fact) but of course there are often complications that can affect her hearing.

Also, does she have reflux? It’s important to feed her in as upright a position as you can, and keep her up for a while after eating to try and avoid milk “backwashing”.

Regardless - try and see your GP