To Anti Biotic-asise or not? That is the question.

[blinks]

9 month old DD2 has ear infection oozing waxy watery liquid. mmmmm nice

poor lamb has been quite ill for few days which we put down to teething but wot with the oozing, it's obviously her ears.

doc has given us anti b's but weirdly, since the oozing began (last nigh), she's perked up and seems much better.

is this natures way of cleaning out an infection and are anti b's really necessary OR is it the calm before the storm?

have zero experience of ear infections generally...

Generally I wait three weeks with ear infections to give the body a chance to heal before hitting them with the antibiotics! If she's getting better on her own, why not wait five days to decide if she really needs the treatment?

If it's foul gunky liquid, I'd give the ABs now. If she's perked up, I'd perhaps wait but it's tricky when they can't tell you how they feel. I waited with DS2 (7) recently but he was able to tell me whether the pain was better/worse... he ended up with ABs and it cleared up within days.

goddem from gp today.

oooh, conflicting advise... shit.

You might want to look into giving probiotics if you do give the ABs.

doesn't smell foul- just waxy.

it's gunky though.

Didn't see the oozy bit - take the blinking medicine.

Personally, I'd probably give them. Especially if she hasn't had loads of ABs before (DS2 had had a hefty dose of them for something else in October which is why I waited).

MMJ - three week wait with suspected ear infection - with DD each and every time it turned out to be teething - if I'd dosed her up it wouldn't have helped and she vomited copiously with every single antibiotic she was given

aaah- tis unanimous... i'll go fetch the plastic plunger appliance thingummy bobbin.

I waited with DS2 for perhaps 5 days and I knew it was an ear infection. Calpol/nurofen were keeping him happy though.

two options - the goo is pus from behind a burst ear drum or goo is pus frim infection in ear canal.

If the ear drum has burst the painful pressure will be relieved and the pus will come out. However the ear drum may re-seal and then any untreated infection can cause pus build up again and the ear drum pops again. Scarred ear drums are not great for hearing.

If it is an external ear inection then the gunk may just be pus from a locla infection which may or may not clear up on it's own.

I'd give the antibiotics in both cases - if the ear drum has burst ther eis a risk of a chronic infection destroying the ear drum which is not good.

If it's outer ear then that too can stay gungy for several weeks without treatment.

gagarin- you sound like a woman in the know.