I have a few Q's about middle ear infections

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DS (5.11) was complaining of a sore ear and sore throat over the weekend. I was giving him pain relief and as he was no better yesterday took him to the doctors yesterday morning. GP said his tonsils were large and probably due to a virus and that he has a middle ear infection . He said it didn't look like DS's ear drum had perforated and prescribed him pain relief and Sofradex ear drops (these appear to contain a steroid and antibiotics). GP said to keep DS off school yesterday as he had a temp and then to see how he was and to go back in a few days if no improvement or discharge started coming from his ear. DS woke sunday night and last night a few times saying his ear hurt so I have lept him off school again today to ensure i can get his medication done properly and because I dont know when he will feel pain (school will probably only send him home if he said it was sore anyway).

We are now on the second day of the ear drops and each time I have put them in his ear he has been crying saying it really hurts . Now I know how painful earache can be so thought I had to really give them chance to work but this morning he was still crying saying it really hurts when they go in. After a few minutes he is fine and back to normal.
Is this normal when dealing with a middle ear infection? or could it be a sign that the drum has perforated?
I don't want to risk any damage by using the drops if the drum has potentially perforated but I also don't want to go rushing back to the doctors after a day for them to say I haven't given the meds chance to work.

Any advice would be grateful, and sorry for the essay

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Whenever ds's ear drum goes then he has a noticable amount of discharge, certainly overnight it's all over the pillow.
I think if your ds is fine shortly after the ear drops go in then it's probably just the yucky feeling of them going in.

Thanks DeWe, I did wonder if it nwas just the yucky feeling but he says it is hurting and the fact he is crying kind of threw me really. He isnt feeling dizzy or anything with it and i have been checking for discharge on his pillow and there isn't any, alyhough he seems to only be sleeping on his unaffected side. How long should i keep him off school IYO?

My dd2s eardrum perforated with no sign of discharge. I've never been given drops for ear infection for dd1 - she's always had an oral antibiotic (amoxycilin, the yellow one you have to keep in the fridge).

You really can't be too careful with ear infections. If there's still a problem tomorrow I'd be going back to the GP.

oops, just read date of your post. My answer probably irrelevant by now!