why is my son bleeding from his ears?

[doyouwantfrieswiththat]

If (according to the GP) the eardrum hasn't burst. Is it possible the otoscope would miss a small tear because of all the dried blood and gunk.

The bleeding/oozing started just after I'd got antibiotics to treat his ear infection, would I be reasonable to go back to the doc. when the antibiotics have finished. He's complaining he can't hear which is due to the infection (I felt the GP was a bit dismissive bearing in mind this is a 7yr old with previous history of glue ear/burst eardrum/hearing loss but maybe I'm not being fair), anyone else had similar experience?

Go to A and E!

The bleeding/oozing has eased, all the signs point to a ruptured eardrum to me (not a GP), but the GP he saw today said it had not burst. Is this possible? He has antibiotics so I know that will treat/stave off infection but if his eardrum has ruptured it may be a longer term problem (in terms of healing).

My feeling is to go back when the antibiotics course has finished to have him checked over again. The old NHS direct number no longer works here but when I phoned 111 last night they said to get it checked by GP today, keep an eye out for the septicaemia rash (as you always do) and just keep changing his pillow cases unless his condition deteriorates.

In himself he is responsive and alert, though complains he can't hear properly and isn't eating much. He's had plenty of fluids today.

bump

anyone experienced this? what did you do?

I would take him to A&E.

Do not wait until the course of antibiotics has finished. Take him to the hospital who can examine him more thoroughly than a GP.

thanks for replying chocs, I wasn't ignoring your advice, just faffing.

our local A&E is a bit of a nightmare. I suppose I was just hoping someone would come along and say 'this used to happen all the time to my dc & I know what to do.'

My left eardrum has punctured three times. Each time after an ear infection and each time the blood and puss came out after the eardrum has punctured.

Both my children have had punctured eardrums caused by ear infections.

Your doctor is talking rubbish. There will be a perforation even if tiny.

However, unless the eardrum is ripped really badly, there will be nothing to do apart from wait for it to heal. So you need to get a 2nd opinion on it as until it's healed he should not swim or get it wet, ie in the bath or when washing hair as water will be able to get in.

For both me and the kids, we went back after a few weeks to check it was healed and if not, then went back another few weeks later.
It leaves scar tissue on the eardrum, after the third puncture my hearing is not quite right on that side but only slightly off.

If your sons hearing is bad now it will be due to gunk in the ear canal which will pass.

thank you for replying, [grateful mum emoticon]

Honestly, the gp may be right. I took my dd to A&E bleeding from her ears, it was a Friday night so no gp services for oveer 48 hours. She had a history of glue ear, burst ear drums etc. It was actually a nasty outer ear infection, cleared up beautifully with abs, and eardrum was intact.
I would seek medical help now though, do you have a walkin centre nearby at all? If you phone ahead, you get seen quicker...

Hows ds doing?
Our ds had similar thing to monmartres - bad outer infection,very gunky n some blood,lasted 3 weeks as gp gave us oral antibiotics for 2 weeks before referring us to hospital and we got drops from ENT - told by consultant never to accept oral abs for ear infection
I'm sure its the gunk affecting his hearing - is it improving at all? I'd def recommend getting it cleaned out at hospital and getting drops if it is still gunky

I will take ds to A&E first thing tomorrow, still a little bloody stuff on the pillow but in himself he has been really well.

However, the hearing loss is starting to frighten him and he couldn't even hear me reading his bedtime story tonight. I thought that having seen 2 GPs within 2 days (Wed & Thurs - pre & post bleeding ears) and having antibiotics that seem to be working would make it just a waiting game, that the hearing loss would ease as the infection did, but it seems to be more noticeable not less. I wondered what I would gain by seeing yet another doctor.

A second opinion concerning the eardrum and maybe some antibiotic drops is the answer to that.

At least he has 2 weeks off school now to give his hearing time to recover.

If you go to A&E tomorrow they may have an ENT specialist in who can have a look. What's most important is how DS is feeling. Try to make him as comfortable as possible - a luke warm hot water bottle may help. He should sleep with the leaky ear down, obviously.

He isn't complaining of pain any more but my db suggested giving him ibuprofen to help ease any swelling so I will do that too.

thank you for all your replies. will let you know what happens at A&E tomorrow.

so I've just spent a few hours in A&E...

First doc couldn't see what the fuss was about till he tried to get ds1 to hear him, then said he would get an ENT to check with a better otoscope.

ENT said the blood did come from behind the eardrum because there's still some there, behind both drums which is a bit unlucky. He's prescribed a nasal spray to help it drain and also suggested chewing gum.He's happy that the antibiotics are working but I need to keep my GP updated.

The deafness will stay till the blood drains, but he's booked ds in for hearing assessment in a couple of weeks. Very glad I went, I've been reassured, well advised and I have follow up. I hope ds will be hearing better by the time he goes back to school over Easter, it's been hard enough for me having to shout directly in his ear or write everything down.

Good news. Happy easter hope the chocolate takes his mind off things. Put subtitles on the tv. [buwink]

I'll know he's better when he can hear the rattle of a smarties Easter egg from across the room.[bugrin]