Ear infections - is it just a case of calpol?

[Monkeytrousers]

or are antibiotics needed?

depends how bad the infection is. dd had a sore ear by the time i got tot he doctors it had burst and was healing. you can use baby ibroprofen (can't spell) with calpol if the pain is really bad.

Depends on the doctor, we've found. Other things which helped DD were a warm hotwater bottle and sipping drinks, to ease the pressure in the ear. Apparently, not swallowing while they're asleep is one of the reasons why the pain is so much worse at night.

dd is prone to these and last time she had one DID get abs.After two nights of her screaming in distress,despite calpol and brufen I was at my wits end.You can use ibuprofen as well as calpol.Some ear infections are viral therefore abs won't help.

I can sympathise am currently off work with a nasty ear infection,they are really painful.Cannot get into GPs until Thursday.No sleep last night due to really sore ear,teething baby and ds bedwetting.Aaargh.Felt like killing snotty docs receptionist:

"How do you know you need abs?"
Me: "I have greeny pus coming out of my ears!!!"

Some GPs are loath to px abs for ear infections as they usually go in about 3 days.Not much help if you have to listen to your poor little one screaming in agony.Hope they are better soon

OMG that sounds awful WT. We've been to the docs twice. I got ab's on last visit bit he said DS's chest was clear but his ears looked sore. Now ds is starting to rub his ears and has a temp. Looks like we will be going out for more calpol today. Thanks.