Do you need antibiotics for ear infection?

[IcedCoffeeQueen]

Google says generally not but ds age 7 has been in pain since Friday night with severe ear ache, sore throat and headache, giving him calpol and ibruprofen but he's still rather upset. His ear has been leaking discharge since sat morning, he seemed perkier this morning so I didn't call gp but he's now looking white and complaining of pain again, its hard to gauge illness in ds as he has mild SN with sensory issues and can think he's in a lot of pain for minor things, is he likely to need an antio biotic for this? he has had to ear infections with discharge - no pain twice before and its cleared on its own
thanks

If he has been in pain since Friday, and there is a discharge as well as other symptoms I would definitely take him to the GP. Ear infections can be really nasty.

Yes - go to the doctor

If he's got discharge then he may have burst his ear drum in which case you need antibiotics.

Having just recovered from my first every earache, I would recommend antibiotics.

The pain was agony and unrelentless. Took 3 weeks of antibiotic ear drops (stopped first lot once pain had gone, but it was too early and it came back). The ear drops took the edge of the pain after a couple of days.

Oh my goodness yes it absolutely sounds like he needs seen. Ds always needs antibiotics for ear infections- weirdly he gets no pain in his ear but Terrible tummy pain and horrifically high temperature.

Generally speaking, ear infections clear up 24 hours sooner with antibiotics than if they are just treated symptomatically. But that 24 hours can be important if painkillers aren't doing the trick.

Have you tried gentle warmth? That can make a huge difference to ear pain. Particularly if there is an element of psychosomatic pain.......

just seen the nurse she thinks its an outer ear infection she doesn't know if drum is burst as she cant see it, he has some ear drops. Thanks for replies