Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DS 9 in pain - would you go to A&E?

78 replies

ElfinsMum · 14/10/2023 08:39

I took DS to an out of hours gp around 5 hours ago because he had a bad earache. He was diagnosed with an outer ear infection (otitis externa) and given antibiotic drops.

I have given him one dose of antibiotics, and a dose of ibuprofen and of paracetamol. He is now in a lot of pain and has been for over an hour - rolling around on the sofa, shouting out, crying. He can't watch his favourite TV show. I can't give him any more pain relief for another hour.

AIBU to take him to A&E/walk in for extra pain relief? What could they actually give him or do that the GP hasn't already done? It's horrible watching him suffer without being able to do anything.

OP posts:
Rockgod · 14/10/2023 08:41

I think at this point I’d be helping him to ride it out till the next dose of pain relief just because part of the treatment the GP has given is antibiotics and it takes a while for them to do their job.

Rockgod · 14/10/2023 08:42

And a hand hold for you both - horrible to have ear ache and horrible to watch on helplessly when it happens to your child

Ponoka7 · 14/10/2023 08:44

Under these circumstances we've given extra pain relief at home. That's what you would be asking for. Short term it isn't dangerous. In two days the pain will be easily manageable.

lljkk · 14/10/2023 08:44

How much sleep did he get last night? Can you get him to sleep now?

lljkk · 14/10/2023 08:45

Mine can get very over-dramatic when over-tired.

Flipflopflopflip · 14/10/2023 08:45

Shouting out and crying isn't going to help with earache. I would top up with paracetamol

DisquietintheRanks · 14/10/2023 08:45

Try some warm compresses on the ear and give him pain meds regularly. A&E can't do anything else at this point. If he's not making progress after the next couple of doses of antibiotics then seek medical attention (or if he develops a fever etc). I had this recently, it's nasty and painful. Took 2 days of antibiotics before I saw any improvement.

Mrsjayy · 14/10/2023 08:46

I think he needs to wait it out till his next dose A&E will only give him paracetamol/ibuprofen which you can give him and then there will be the wait. I hope he gets better soon and obviously if he is still distressed or you think he's worse later on call 111 again,

AngelicInnocent · 14/10/2023 08:46

Yeah, a & e cant do anything at this point other than refer you up to the children's ward. By the time you have been assessed in both areas and possibly given stronger pain relief, it will be a few hours.

Why not try your pharmacy when it opens and seeing if there is anything stronger you can get otc for him.

Minimonkeysmum · 14/10/2023 08:46

This isn't really one for A&E or a walk in - would suggest trying a Pharmacy who may be able to give something stronger for pain relief. A warm flannel on his ear may help too.

Hope he feels better soon - earaches are horrible!

LogicVoid · 14/10/2023 08:47

Ring 111 for further advice.

Original poster
ElfinsMum · 14/10/2023 08:48

@Flipflopflopflip A point I have made repeatedly - I'm a shut up and quit whining kind of mum generally 😂

OP posts:
jurassictart · 14/10/2023 08:48

Ear infections are astonishing painful and, unfortunately, there's only so much that painkillers (and doctors) can do until they ease. Another vote for a warm compress, even just a hot water bottle held against his ear will help.

00100001 · 14/10/2023 08:48

Spread the ibuprofen and paracetamol out, take them every 4 hours each, but 2 hours apart....

So ibuprofen at 12, paracetamol at 2, ibuprofen at 4, paracetamol at 6.

Mrsjayy · 14/10/2023 08:49

What I used to do is give the pain relief separately so give paracetamol first wait a bit then give ibuprofen It was obviously a placebo but it helped settle my dc when they were in pain.

catbla2957 · 14/10/2023 08:49

Yea I would use a hot water bottle. It will help and will soothe him.

Gwendimarco · 14/10/2023 08:51

00100001 · 14/10/2023 08:48

Spread the ibuprofen and paracetamol out, take them every 4 hours each, but 2 hours apart....

So ibuprofen at 12, paracetamol at 2, ibuprofen at 4, paracetamol at 6.

This.

I wouldn't top up on the quantity though, I think that’s quite dangerous advice.

Try to calm him down. Agree with the warm flannel. Hug him like you did when he was a baby.

PinkFootstool · 14/10/2023 08:51

You could speak to 111 about upping the dose of painkillers safely - I don't think he's allowed codeine at his age. You could also speak to a pharmacist.

Gummybear75 · 14/10/2023 08:52

I don't think they'll give any other pain relief and the wait you'd have in A&E would be very uncomfortable for him.
You could contact 111 for further advice though.
A warm compress can help with ear pain (hot water bottle) and just distract as much as you can.
Rotate the ibuprofen and paracetamol every 4 hours so he always has one in his system (remember to counter in night doses so need to be spread further apart)
It's hard watching them in pain but hopefully he'll get some respite soon once the medicine starts working.

Original poster
ElfinsMum · 14/10/2023 08:53

@DisquietintheRanks Snap! It was awful, like labour pain. Way worse than a normal middle ear infection. I also remember counting down til the next pain relief.... exactly like I am now tbh

OP posts:
rainbowstardrops · 14/10/2023 08:53

Earaches are horrible!

I agree with a previous poster to stagger the pain relief. Alternate Ibuprofen and Paracetamol in 2 hourly intervals. That's what I've always done for myself and my children.
Do you think you could encourage him to have a sleep if he can? Obviously he'd have to stop shouting and crying first!

Hope he feels better soon

Mrsjayy · 14/10/2023 08:54

Have you tried the compress ?

Gwendimarco · 14/10/2023 08:54

Mrsjayy · 14/10/2023 08:49

What I used to do is give the pain relief separately so give paracetamol first wait a bit then give ibuprofen It was obviously a placebo but it helped settle my dc when they were in pain.

paracetamol and ibuprofenare not placebos.

Tic tacs or a spoon of syrup would be placebos. If child is asking for more pain relief before it can be given, OP could try giving these as a placebo. It might work.

MaverickSnoopy · 14/10/2023 08:56

I wouldn't. Largely because if you did then you'd be waiting for quite a while before actually getting any extra pain relief. I'd give an extra dose at home. Are you giving paracetamol and ibuprofen? You could always discuss with a pharmacist for reassurance and they may have other suggestions too.

Original poster
ElfinsMum · 14/10/2023 08:56

I have spread the doses out, was going to put that in my op but it got complicated.

Does anyone know if heat works for outer ear infections rather than middle ear?

OP posts: