Green snots coming out of my Nieces ears??

[Biglips]

Since April/May last year she had suffered literally non-stop ear infections...

Last week her mum taken her to her docs as she had a high temp and was given the all clear...this morning she woke up again with green snots (mucus) coming out of her ears - is it summat to worry about? as Niece is happy, as i feel sorry for her mum as she had used up all her holidays at work for this year and we arent in Feb yet!!!!!!, and cannot afford to have time off.

She said that everytime she had a cold...later on she have probs with her ears

It does sound like a perforated ear drum. DS3 has had 3 since November. His latest one went 2 weeks ago, and is still weeping so think they can take a while to clear. They don't do that much with them these days though. When ds3 had his first 2 (at the same time) in November he had a sezire and ended up in hospital. They only gave calpol/nurofen. The advice now is generally not to give antibiotocs for ear infections (although there will be exceptions obviously).

Whoops- crossed posts- conflicting advice- the hospital were adamant they wouldn't routinely give anything now for ear infections.

Biglips sound suspicially like a burst drum to me, GP's are not always clued up on ear infections in littleies you know. Plus, if the ear is still discharging how can he get a good look in teh ear anyway?

My ds sufferred terribley with this, so I learnt lots about glue ear/infections along the way.

An ear infection is infected fluid in the middle ear, this is what causes the throbbing pain. The build up of pressure causes the drum to burst, and the fluid leaks out. Looks gross but immediate pain releif for child. Most drums heal quickly from this, however if this happens lots you can get hearing problems.

Quite often fluid will reamin behind the drum, even when there is no infection. This is glue ear.

These are interestening re ear infections and antibiotics:

article 1

article 2

Jimjams - I agree and so did the doctor that for ear infection/temperature that it's more often than not, viral rather than bacterial and therefore no point treating it with AB's.

For some reason when he had the smelly pus coming out of his ear (not following an ear infection/temp), he (ENT) said he deffo needed the AB drops. It was really foul though - stunk to high heaven.

doctors apprently conducted trials where children with ear infections were split into 2 groups, one lot were not given anti-biotics, the other were, they both recovered in the same amount of time..most gps will advise painkillers for ear infections..however, if your child is suffering re-current infections and perforations they need a referral.