ear infections

[bessie26]

I took DD2 (10m) to the Dr 8 days ago as she had yukky stuff coming out of her ear & got some ABs.

I'm unsure whether I should just assume that the ABs will work, or should I take her back to get it checked. She didn't really seemed that bothered by it in the first place & is teething, so it's hard to tell if her occasional winginess is caused by ear or teeth! She is sometimes shaking her head from side to side, but with no obvious discomfort.

She has a swimming lesson on thursday that I am loathe to miss as we have missed the last 2 weeks due to illness (me, then her), but obvs don't want to take her in the pool if her ear isn't right (she will be going underwater)

AIBU to take her to the Dr on weds to get them to check it has cleared up ok?

My DD has had a spate of ear infections since Christmas. Just bad luck apparently. The last one was just before we went away on holiday and Iknew she would be swimming a lot. Dr said that it would be ok, but to use an ear plug.
I always assume that the AB's have done the trick but am begining to wonder since they keep reoccuring.

I wouldn't because it sounds like the ear drum might have burst. They recomend no swimming for about 4 weeks if that has happened.

Sorry, I meant I wouldn't take her swimming.
I'm not sure I'd take her back to the doctors, you could try phoning them and asking for advice.

I did ask about swimming when I saw the Dr, he just said no swimming for "a week or so". It will have been 10 days on thursday when she has her lesson....

I would take her back to docs, just to check the drum has healed. My dr said it's fine to swim/wash hair IF the drum has healed. It's always worth getting them checked as I think ear drums can take up to 6 weeks to heal. Good luck.

chesticles I'm no medic but have experience with ears! This is what I have been told: Anti-biotics will only clear up any bacteria that MAY have caused the ear infection (as opposed to a virus, for which I think there's little proof ant-bs are effective) and any bacteria that's come in thru the tear/perforation (it is an open wound after all).

I don"t think anti-b's will heal the drum, if ur dd's drum hadn't healed and you'd gone swimming etc she may have got reinfected thru the tear.

She may have just been unlucky. It has been a horrid winter for bugs. However, if u follow up a perforation with a docs app about 2 weeks later, or sooner if the pain continues after the perf, then at least u'll know where u are (iykwim).

Reoccuring ear infections CAN be an underlying sign of something (glue ear/enlarged adenoids etc) but just could be bad luck or re-infection thru the tear.

Always check with ur doc tho.

thanks perm - I think I'm going to have to take her back to check - I can't risk making something which has possibly almost healed worse again, and she was fiddling with her ear again tonight. I don't take the DC to the Dr very often, so hopefully they won't think I'm too much of a paranoid mummy!

No worries. You are not paranoid, just doing the right thing. Sometimes it's hard to know when to go to docs or not, isn't it? Tho having had probs with ears I think it's important to get checked out, even just for peace of mind. Hope all ok.

Doc says it is healing nicely, but no swimming this week as we shouldn't risk getting any water in it. Next week will be fine though

My daughter is older and has only ever had 2 ear infections, but both were in France after swimming every day. (they were pretty bad, gunk and blood coming out of ears) We discovered a product called earbandit which is a headband that comes with putty in a variety of sizes from age 1 to adult. Although my daughter wasn't keen on wearing it she did as the ear infections were very bad. She has not one since. They come in some nice colours too!!!