Ear infection, can you advise me please

[JustGettingByMum]

DD (9) complaining of ear ache at weekend so took her to the Doctor's on Monday. The (very nice) nurse prescribed antibiotics, and we have been keeping her dosed up with neurofen and calpol for pain relief.

However, her ear is still really hurting and she is in tears.

Any thoughts?
Is there anything else I can try?
Is it worth going back to GP in the morning?

If the antibiotics haven't worked you need to go back to the docs and ask them to swab the ear then prescribe the right antibiotics for the type of bacteria she has.

Ear infections can be caused by all sorts of different bacteria so they need to identify the right antibiotics if a general one hasn't worked.

Try and encourage her to sleep sitting up or as upright as you can get as the change in pressure when she lies down will increase the pain.

A warm compress against the sore side sometimes helps too.

The ear drum may burst - you'll know by the green gunk coming out of the sore side - if it does then the pain will stop straight away which is good but you will need to be very careful not to get water in it until it's healed.

Thank you for replying, I was feeling rather sad,
DD is allergic to one type of antibiotics so they have had to prescribe a diffrent one.

Good advice re staying upright, will try this with her. I have been suggesting she should lie down

And lots of distraction, watching TV, stories, listening to audio CD, anything which distracts. Also, if she has a cold, using nose spray to help snot come out and not block tubes to ear. I have been told by GP that when the ear drum bursts you have to be extremely careful she does not pick up bacterial infection (e.g not taking her to places like soft play areas - you may not go there anyway given her age, but these type of places where there might be a lot of bacteria) as the bacteria can then easily enter and that there is a very small but serious risk of brain inflammation in such a situation. He told me that once burst to keep a close eye on temperature and to seek immediate medical help if she was to develop fever (my dd is 4.5). Hope she gets better soon.

You may find the NHS website of interest.

Lists a few treatment options which may relieve symptoms.

Thanks for the kind responses.

I took dd back to the GP this am, the infection is getting better, but there are "bubbles" behiind the ear drum (from a cold last week), and although these will clear naturally, it is these which are causing the pain. as they upses the pressure in the ear.

(I think I got that right)

DD still on max pain relief - and lots of distraction therapy , but is a little brighter today.

Once again, thanks to all for your help x