Son crying in pain - please help

[Yamaya]

My son has been complaining of ear pain since Monday . He's 4 and autistic so hard for him to communicate much, like how bad it is, if it's worse etc. He was sent home from school Tuesday because he wasn't himself. He had a temperature so we've been giving ibuprofen and paracetamol and he hasn't been too bad today. We kept him off school though.

Tonight though he has woken absolutely screaming in pain, said yes when I asked if it was his ear. But mostly been crying, nearly falling asleep and then screaming again. It's so awful to witness. We've given him some more paracetamol about an hour ago and he can't have anything else until 2am.

What would you do? I don't know whether to call 111 or if I am being dramatic. He is Asleep on my husband in the lounge at the moment but will probably be awake again soon crying.

Definitely call 111 they will ask you relevant questions to determine the next steps, trust your instinct and if it means taking him to get checked it’s better that he gets seen and it’s nothing than the opposite.

Yes phone 111. The out of hours dr may give a prescription of antibiotics.

You could call 111 but I imagine there would be a long wait as there usually is. Have you seen GP? It sounds like an infection which needs antibiotics and probably an ear spray for the pain. I would try and keep him comfortable for the night and GP thing. A warm compress usually helps with the pain. My eldest used to get ear infections twice a year until he was around 7/8, not pleasant at all. Hope he feels better soon.

Thank you everyone. He is finally in bed asleep (for now). Maybe the paracetamol took a while to work. 111 I was on hold for ages until he fell asleep so I hung up. Probably wouldn't ring back for hours anyway. Doctors opens at 8am.

Can he have ibuprofen if he wakes again?

Has he been pulling at his ear? Ear infections can be really nasty when they're little so if he does okay tonight then GP first thing. If he gets any worse just go to A&E. Kids compensate so much up to a certain point. If he struggles to communicate he really needs to be seen. Poor little love, I feel for you OP

He just woke again crying so given more paracetamol. Never had any ear problems with mine so this is all new to me.
The first time it happened he came running over holding his ear and crying saying ow my ear. Like it suddenly started hurting a lot. Since then he's been pulling at it and putting his hand over it. Always the same ear. He's not like my daughter who might use it to manipulate me, if you know what I mean.

He is now sat on sofa having an ice lolly and not as hysterical as last night. I think last night he was so tired which probably made it worse. I think he can wait until 8 now whereas last night he was scaring me.

one of mine get frequent ear infections . If it happens before I can get her prescription my doctor advised us to us to warm some olive oil and drop some in her ear . It does help get a bit of sleep .

Aw bless him, ear pain is horrific

Hope he's ok OP.

I'd prop him up with some pillows too - I find laying flat makes it throb more.

Some good tips thank you.

My 4 month old DD recently had an an ear infection.

One afternoon she just wouldn't stop crying and I didn't know what was wrong. The next morning I noticed some must've popped in her ear overnight and released the pressure off her ear. Got a doctor appt that day and had a swab taken of her ear and was given AB's. She had an ear infection.