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General health

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Original poster

My 11 month old has a runny ear

9 replies

bunyanvillas · 15/12/2005 08:36

My dd is just recovering from a nasty cold and sickness bug - but I have noticed some horrid smelly gunk coming out of one of her ears - mostly at night when she is lying down. She does not appear to be in pain, although she has been very unsettled for the last couple of nights (lots of crying - but no ear pulling). Before I rush off to the docs and sit in the waiting room for two hours, I wondered if anyone on this board might be able to give any advice? I'm going to pop to the chemise once they're open to see if I can get any ear drops for her.

OP posts:

MaryP0p1 · 15/12/2005 08:43

Perhaps she has glue ear, sounds like to me. For tha she's need a course of antibiotics.

northerner · 15/12/2005 08:56

Trip to the GP is what is needed. My ds sufferred terribly from this. She won't be in any pain now as a runny ear usually indicates a burst drum, this releives the pressure so there is no pain. Not as alarming as it sounds - it will heal, but Doc will probably take a swab of gunk to see if its viral/bacterial and Anti b's may be required.

HTH.

northerner · 15/12/2005 08:58

BTW Glue ear is when the fluid collects in the middle ear Marypop - not a discharge. I am an expert on this tahnks to my poor ds

MaryP0p1 · 15/12/2005 09:56

But eventually the dischange comes out. This is the first physical sign normally to confirm its glue ear and not and ear infection.

My children suffered dreadfully with ear infections and I've cared for children with glue ear. Its horrible. One boy I had for a long time used to get glue ear once a month through the winter months, poor boy. He ending up having gromets, worked brilliantly.

Icemum · 15/12/2005 12:05

Marypop, with glue ear the discharge does not come out. My DD3 has suffered with it for two years and has never ever had any discharge. Hers affects her hearing so badly that it has been recommended that she has hearing aids if this set of grommets do not work.

If there is weeping and discharge then it is a sign of infection not glue ear.

You can get glue ear with out having ear infections.

northerner · 15/12/2005 12:10

You are right ice Mum. You do not get glue ear once a month, it's an ongoing problem not a recurring one.

My ds had countless infections that led to glue ear. He eventually had grommets too.

northerner · 15/12/2005 12:13

see here

MaryP0p1 · 15/12/2005 13:23

I'm only going on what the Doctor told the Mum. The diagnosis was glue ear. The Dr told the Mum the child had glue ear and that was way the fluid was seeping out of his ear. The build up was so great the area behind the nose could hold it any more.

HappyMumof2TurtleDoves · 15/12/2005 13:26

Definately sounds like a burst ear drum following an ear infection, rather than glue ear. Do take her to the doctors, poor thing

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