burst ear drum in a toddler

[fannybaws]

Hello Mumsnet, my two year old Ds has now had 5 perfrations of his left ear since November. He has had 4 lots of antibiotics which he finished each time.
His ear burst again yesyerday and he also has a lump approx 2cm long underneath the ear.
It is easy to see when he tilts his head back, and very easy to feel.
He is well in himself though a bit hot and we are giving him regular calpol. Any ideas or similar experiences ou there ??

perforations

Have you been seeing your Gp about this? You prob need a referral to an ent specialist. Sudafed can stop the fluid building up before it becomes a problem, that's what we do with our Dd

Yes have seen Gp each time, spoke to senior gp recently and she felt he did not need referral to ent as she hought they would not do anything.
I am worried about being too laid back about it and Ds suffering and potential hearing loss as a result.
How old is your DD does she have similar?
Did she have the neck lump?

My Dd is 7 now, she had the problem when she was two. Each time the ear drum bursts it scars when it heals who h can lead to deafness. My Dd didnt have a lump I'd definitely get that checked. Be more forceful about a referral.

Our experience is this...when DD turned 1 she kept having ear infections; she'd get hot and uncomfortable then her ear would 'burst' and stuff looking like snot would come out, all very unpleasant.
We tried all sorts of antibiotics but the ear infection would return shortly after the course finishing.
Anyway, one day I wasn't feeling well, my SIL looked after DD. I gave my SIL a carton of formula to use as I doubted my SIL would have full fat milk in and didn't want to hassle her any more than I had to. It was the night after an ear burst and dSIL cleared away the goo and gave her the formula to drink. DD came home with clear ears!! So I put 2 and 2 together and put DD back onto formula and we've not had an ear infection since (she's now 8).
When DD turned 2 we switched to organic semi-skimmed as she can't stay on formula forever and only used full fat milk in cooking.
Just wanted to tell our story in case it rings any bells about changes in lifestyle that you wouldn't automatically connect to ear infections.
Don't remember a lump though.

I don't know anything about this, but is really isn't up to a GP to second guess ent, particularly with the risk of hearing loss. Even if it is only temporary it is a crucial age for language development and if it isn't temporary then it is even worse. I would insist on seeing ent, even if they don't recommend doing anything.

I have a lump under my ear (about an inch forward) every time I have an ear infection it's my lymph gland draining away infection

HI Fannybaws your poor DS his problems sounds very much like my DS2 (2.5 yrs) His ear 1st perforated when be was 1 and he has had antibiotic after antibiotic, which didn't really have any effect. He has also had 2 sets of grommets which haven't stopped the problem and we are now waiting for an adenoidectomy operation in May. In our experience other than giving out antibiotics your gp can't do much and your DS needs to get into the ENT system, they probably won't be able to fix him the 1st appointment but the sooner you get on their list the better. The consultant we are now seeing with DS2 has said to us that he is sure some of the adults he sees with hearing problems had it cased by repeated ear perforations as a child. good luck

Thanks for all the responses, I thought it might be his lymph gland Katymac, I will go bck to the GP again and ask for referral to ent.

Hope this re assures you,my dd2 had recurrent perforations from about age 2 to age 7, and now aged 19 her hearing is fine.

However do make sure you get medical advice, each time as she once developed a horrible secondary infection of the discharge, very smelly and unpleasant and off school for weeks
I did in the end take her for cranial osteopathy when she was 8 and she never suffered again Coincidence? I just don't know.

BTW I used to fill an old sock with salt and warm it in the microwave as this gave her some relief from the pain.
Hope your DS is feeling better soon,it really is miserable for them

we had exact same situation with ourr dd1 when she was same age. constant perforations, paed at hosp said she needed grommets but gp wouldnt refer us as said she would grow out of it. In the end i went to HV who referred us and grommets were fitted 2 months later. DD1 never had an infection or perforation since, BUT she is now nearly 7 with badly scarred eardrums so i would really push them to do something about it ASAP

Thanks all, will get on to gp asap and insist on referral.

Just to add another treatment options - my DD had similar since just over one. After months of waiting & seeing, and the odd course of amoxyciling, ENT consultant put her on a 3 month course of zithromax at low doses. This seems to have done the trick for us .. 7 months on she has only had one more ear infection