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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does anyone else's child get this?

15 replies

dreamqueen22 · 29/03/2023 09:00

Dd is 14 months old and since starting nursery at 1 has had countless bugs. I've noticed that every time she gets a cold, cough or runny nose she seems to get an ear infection. It's very obvious because yellow discharge starts oozing from her ear Envy

The past two times this has happened, antibiotics have cleared it up. This time however it's been going on for about 5 days. She has a hacking chesty cough that also doesn't seem to be responding to the antibiotics either. I'm assuming it's viral (as most chest infections are) and that's why the antibiotics aren't doing a lot.

She is well within herself. No fever, eating well and happy enough but at night especially her cough is awful and I've never known her ear keep leaking for this long.

Has anyone else experienced this with their dc?

OP posts:
Geneticsbunny · 29/03/2023 09:12

I had loads of ear infections as a kid and I had glue ear and needed grommets. Keep an eye on here hearing for the next few years and get the GP to refer I'd you think there is an issue. Beat way to check hearing is to stand behind the child so they can't see that you are talking and ask if they would like chocolate quietly and see if they respond. Unlikely to ignore that offer!

Original poster
dreamqueen22 · 29/03/2023 09:22

She had all of the hearing tests as a baby and all was normal but it's just when she gets unwell with other things (particularly a snotty nose) that this seems to happen. It looks really disgusting but once the fluid starts coming out she tends to sleep better and appears to be in less discomfort. Just not sure why the contents of her nose also seems to be coming out of her ear!

OP posts:
FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 29/03/2023 09:27

My eldest used to get ear infections quite regularly but hasn't had one since about 16 months.

My youngest seems to be constantly ill and it always gives him a cough. He's ill again now and possibly has croup. The doctor didn't give him anything and just said things will get easier in the summer.

No point to my comment really, other than offering solidarity as I'm right there with you.

GettingStuffed · 29/03/2023 09:33

DD did, and still does, get lots of ear infections. I became an expert in telling if she needed asantibiotics or just pain killers.
For some people they're a fact of life and they need to work out how to best manage them, in your case it's you who has to work out the plan.

Discharge isn't always a sign of needing antibiotics, I used to judge on smell as the ones needing antibiotics stank to high heaven.

Original poster
dreamqueen22 · 29/03/2023 09:33

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 29/03/2023 09:27

My eldest used to get ear infections quite regularly but hasn't had one since about 16 months.

My youngest seems to be constantly ill and it always gives him a cough. He's ill again now and possibly has croup. The doctor didn't give him anything and just said things will get easier in the summer.

No point to my comment really, other than offering solidarity as I'm right there with you.

Thank you it is appreciated and I'm sorry your little one is poorly too.

It's hard because she's now had 3 courses of antibiotics in the past few months and I don't really like that either. However as soon as a dr sees the leaking, yellow pus coming from her ear they start talking about infection and sepsis and seem to prescribe them as a matter of urgency. Last time she didn't even see the dr, they prescribed over the phone.

It's worrying that it's not clearing quickly this time. Apparently ear infections can be viral too, even the ones that produce this horrible gunk. So I'm hoping it will clear up on its own but it's taking a while :/

OP posts:
Original poster
dreamqueen22 · 29/03/2023 09:35

GettingStuffed · 29/03/2023 09:33

DD did, and still does, get lots of ear infections. I became an expert in telling if she needed asantibiotics or just pain killers.
For some people they're a fact of life and they need to work out how to best manage them, in your case it's you who has to work out the plan.

Discharge isn't always a sign of needing antibiotics, I used to judge on smell as the ones needing antibiotics stank to high heaven.

That's interesting as none of hers have had a foul smell but they look awful, it literally seeps out.

OP posts:
Geneticsbunny · 29/03/2023 10:05

Every time goo comes out of her ears, the ear drum has burst. this causes scaring and will affect her hearing long term. I can't hear any high pitched noises and have learnt to lip read in loud environments because mine burst so many times when I was a kid. The fluid should be draining down the tube that connects the back of the ears to her throat but it is probably too small, hence glue ear.

Geneticsbunny · 29/03/2023 10:07

The pain stops once the war drum bursts I can vividly remember the relief. There is nothing like ear infections for pain.

Original poster
dreamqueen22 · 29/03/2023 13:13

Geneticsbunny · 29/03/2023 10:05

Every time goo comes out of her ears, the ear drum has burst. this causes scaring and will affect her hearing long term. I can't hear any high pitched noises and have learnt to lip read in loud environments because mine burst so many times when I was a kid. The fluid should be draining down the tube that connects the back of the ears to her throat but it is probably too small, hence glue ear.

That's quite worrying, is it preventable at all? If it happens again I think I will see about getting an ENT referral

OP posts:
Geneticsbunny · 29/03/2023 14:26

Grommets stop it bursting

DogInATent · 29/03/2023 14:30

Just not sure why the contents of her nose also seems to be coming out of her ear!
Ear, nose and throat are all connected.
(as are your tear deducts, which is why when you pinch your nose and 'blow' you can inflate your ears and blow through your eyes)

Original poster
dreamqueen22 · 29/03/2023 18:07

Having looked online it says that doctors tend to see if it's something that will clear up on its own before going down the surgical route. So I bet I will probably be fobbed off if I try to do anything until she's older (or if it happens any more).

Very worrying and frustrating especially since antibiotics don't appear to be shifting it this time. Thankfully she's not unwell in herself and doesn't seem to be in pain but something is clearly not right for yellow gunge to be coming out of her ear.

OP posts:
FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 29/03/2023 18:23

I'm really sorry your daughter is poorly, OP.

It's just so fucking shit.

Geneticsbunny · 29/03/2023 19:09

I had about 5 years of burst ear drums before I got grommets so she should be ok. Just follow up if it doesn't stop happening in the next year

beetr00 · 29/03/2023 19:14

@dreamqueen22 presumably they've checked her tonsils?

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