Getting over a perforated ear drum Qs?

[flack]

Think DS had ear infex, ear drum burst 2 days ago (slow leak), he is almost recovered exept still a little ooze, so no need to see doc (did see one one last week but she didn't even think he had an ear infex).

1. How do I know when the ear drum has healed and he can go in the bath, swimming again, safely?

2. DS is only 2, keeps sticking finger in affected ear. Other than keeping his hands clean, what else can I do to keep the area clean?

3. Does it matter if I don't clean the ooze up (much)? I am thinking the less I try to clean it, the less likely to introduce bad bacteria. Any reason I "should" clean?

Just clean the muck from the external ear, leave the inside well alone. Ear drums heal very quickly.DDs burts one night with a gallon of yuck pouring out and by the time she saw GP next morning he struggled to see the hole. A couple of weeks should be ok before swimming again,I think.
My DD was given antibiotics for hers though.
Perhaps ring NHS direct to be sure?

ok, thanks. I just wondered after reading messages from people on MN saying that when they had a burst eardrum it took them months to get their hearing back.

The nurse who examined DS said 2 weeks of no-water stuff if it did burst (she thought it might burst, but that he was just congested).

Not to frigthen you, but both my ear drums are perforated from having glue ear as a child. I had gromits and my ear drums never healed! I am presuming that being so young your DSs will heal, but I would take him back to the dr to check before taking him swimming, just to be on the safe side.