Is this mastoiditis?

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Ds is 3 and has had a mild cold this week. He has recently had flu and chickenpox so think hes run down.

Last night ds woke up about 9.30, I thought he was having a nightmare because he was whinging but not awake. I sat with him for about 10 mins just comforting him, couldn't see anything wrong but he was obviously distressed. He settled back to sleep and that was that.

This morning he's woken up with his ear sticking out, I thought he'd been lying on it but it's not going back. Felt behind his ear and it feels a bit swollen and tender to him. There's no redness and he doesn't feel like he has a temp. Got a gp appt later but I'm worried this could be mastoiditis.

Has anyone had anything similar before?

It's the right side looking at it from behind

Behind the ear

Anyone?

Bump - bless him

My little girl had this and looked similar. It did however start following completion of one lot of antibiotics for an ear infection.

How did you get on at the docs?

Thanks for your replies.

Doc checked his ears and said the swollen one was a bit pink but not bad. Dr thought it was a swollen gland rather than ear related. She gave us amoxicillin but he's come out in a rash after the second dose so waiting on 111 to callback. Its gotten redder as the day has gone on so I'm not sure what to think tbh.

This was earlier on. Did your dd just have more antibiotics or did it need further treatment if you don't mind me asking? @winterincoming

My son had mastoiditis a few years ago and it looked similar and then got worse. Please go back to the GP if it doesn't look like it's clearing up. I had problems getting him diagnosed. I don't wish to be alarmist in any way. Just trying to offer some advice.

She needed 3 days of IV antibiotics in hospital and then was allowed home on oral ones.

He ear looked like it had turned if that makes sense. Was red behind and painful for her.

Hope you get on ok .

Her ear**

That looks a lot like my little one's ear did with mastoiditis.

Sticking out more than the other one and painful behind it - also came on just after a cold.

I'd call the GP ASAP. We needed a week in hospital on an IV to get rid of it (went from seeing the GP to in a hospital ward in a few hours).

Hope he's okay!

Thanks for the messages.

The second doctor we saw was more concerned but didn't think it was mastoiditis either, he gave us another antibiotic and it went back to normal over the next 36 hours. He thought the infection was still in the ear. He was really clear to take him back if it didn't go down within 48 hours so think hes had a close shave!