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Children's health

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Original poster

My poor 6 month old! Help!

26 replies

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 19/07/2010 20:58

DS2 is almost 6months and since birth has had a very dark discharge from his right ear. Dispite cleaning the outer ear it persists.
He is fully breastfeed and I noticed over the last few weeks he has been batting that ear like crazy and hates feeding on that side. He has cried terribly for days and so after lots of calpol I took him to GP.

GP looked and couldn't see the ear drum as its blocked with wax and so has refered him to ENT at the hospital to have it removed.

The problem is he is in real pain and who knows how long the referal will take. GP offered antibiotics which I said I would hold out before using.....not I feel terrible as he has been in pain all day and isn't sleeping at all.

Should I go back and get antibiotics to be on the safe side?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

belledechocolatefluffybunny · 19/07/2010 21:00

He needs the antibiotics, this sounds like an ear infection.

Original poster

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 19/07/2010 21:00

Should also add that he has developed a cold cough runny nose etc but no temperature.

OP posts:

rubyslippers · 19/07/2010 21:00

Yes I would

Original poster

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 19/07/2010 21:03

oh gosh, I wish I had just taken them now.....GP was a bit questioning as he couldn't see the ear drum.....poor little chap
I thought breastfeed babies didn't get ear infections?

OP posts:

compo · 19/07/2010 21:06

Why didn't the gp tell you to give him the antibiotics?
hope you can get some quick - could you take him to an out of hours place?

Original poster

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 19/07/2010 21:11

GP I think thought the pain was coming from the wax being stuck I think. I have given him Calpol and nurofen and he has fallen alseep will keep up the painkillers over night. Really feel bad.....just though antibiotics were best avioded as much as possible?? Clearly he needs them.

OP posts:

rubyslippers · 19/07/2010 21:13

IMO once in 6 months is not over use of ABs, so why not?

If you had a chronic ear ache would you take them?

Am sure your LO will be on the mend soon

Original poster

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 19/07/2010 21:16

yes i would take them
Off to GP first thing.

OP posts:

rubyslippers · 19/07/2010 21:18

Don't feel bad ... Keep the painkillers topped up tonight and back to the docs tomorrow

EightiesChick · 19/07/2010 21:23

Don't feel bad about using antibiotics. This is what they're for, it's not excessive! I would go straight back to GP or if that's a problem, to a walk-in centre that has GPs on site so can prescribe.

Could he not be seen in A&E to have it removed? Seems like it ought to be a priority for such a young baby in pain.

Hope your DS feels better soon.

thisisyesterday · 19/07/2010 21:24

if you put a small drop of olive oil into the ear it will help soften and clear the wax

Original poster

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 20/07/2010 12:06

Back to GP this morning and already started the antibiotics. He had an ok night topped up with calpol and nurophen which worked well. We have used gallons of oil, just not worked sadly. I hope the referal won't take long.
EightiesChick do you think they would do it in A&E??

Thanks all, so glad we went back

OP posts:

rubyslippers · 20/07/2010 19:49

kayah · 20/07/2010 19:52

don't use earbuds for cleaning baby's ear

it actually pushes wax deeper than it needs to be

I think every pharmacy has almond oil you can get and apply to let the earwax dissolve - ask your pharmacist

heymango · 20/07/2010 19:57

Could you afford to pay for a private referral? I think they are around £120 for the initial consultation, and then you could go back to the NHS for the treatment. You could probably see someone in the next couple of days.

If it's not an option, I am sure that the NHS referral will not be long considering his age and the fact he is in pain.

Hope it gets resolved quickly - poor chap.

Original poster

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 20/07/2010 20:24

Would most certainly consider private.....I wonder who I would need to contact? Perhaps go back to my GP?

kayah oilve oil hasn't worked, do you think the almond oil will?

OP posts:

beammeupscotty · 20/07/2010 20:25

I worked in A&E for over 9 years and wax removal is never done in A&E. They need seeing by a paeds ENT doc so would end up referred anyway.

Antibiotics certainly would not hurt and there may be underlying infection - I'd go with it to see if it eases his pain (even in the short term). Some babies have very narrow ear canals and lots of wax.

I cant see the good of paying out for a private consultation just to tell you he needs the wax syringing out as you already know this. If it is £120 for the treatment I would pay that but I suppose DS2 will need an anaesthetic to do procedure and cant see that being done so cheaply?

Fingers Xd for a rapid appointment, if you dont hear phone the ENT paed secretary to chase it up, it must be awful for DS2 and you.

Haliborange · 20/07/2010 20:26

Babies this age can have infections without a temperature because their immune systems are immature. I'd insist on anti-bs to be honest.

Original poster

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 20/07/2010 20:31

beammeupscotty he would need an anaesthetic!???? OMG! Please don't tell me they have to do that?

Started antibiotics today Haliborange

OP posts:

Haliborange · 20/07/2010 21:11

D'oh. Why do I think I can scan threads when clearly I can't?

Original poster

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 20/07/2010 21:13

beammeupscotty come back!!

OP posts:

beammeupscotty · 20/07/2010 21:56

Sorry !!! Ive come back. I cant see how they will be able to do procedure without somekind of heavy sedation, maybe an anaesthetic. Not had much experience with ears but they have one for an MRI scan, I'll try to find out.

beammeupscotty · 20/07/2010 22:09

I have just read ear syringing is not advised in children.!!! (I said I did not no much about childrens ent Sorry to have panicked you. Will the ENT doc use drops do you think? You can get anti inflammatory drops - I've no idea how they well remove the wax if the oils softeners are not working??.

We used to fish around with forceps to remove beads shoved in ears but in cooperating children, if we hadnt got them out it would have been a quick anaesthetic. If they were going to do any invasive procedure it is usual to give tots anaesthetic - MRI scans, CT scans, teeth removal - and they are very safe and quick acting. If they are going to do nail removal (following accidents) or facial stitching they put them to sleep for the procedure so its no big deal. I wish I knew an ENT nurse ? I'm off to research ...

beammeupscotty · 20/07/2010 22:22

ffs. MY HUSBAND used to work in childrens ENT. I cant believe it!!!! He used to work on childrens ENT outpatients. He said they dont have anaesthetic but are held down and a miniture suction was used to suck out the softened wax. He said its unusual for babies to get wax build up but not impossible. I cant believe the answer was sitting behind me - how weird

kayah · 20/07/2010 22:55

I think the pharmacist will advise you.
In any case the disolving process will take days not hours if I remember well. Google says olive oil is just as good, but in general any mineral oil too (baby oil) as long as is clean.
Don't remove it yourself asit's very easy to ruprure babies ear membrane.

Somewhere it said "Earwax gets denser whenever a person is dehydrated, so make sure your baby gets plenty of fluids."

I guess oil + baths babt gets would do the job as warm water would soften the earwax (just a thought).

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