WHat to do with dd and probable ear infection?

[hercules1]

DD has not been well for a few days now. Temperature and feeling sorry for herself. It seems to have developed into an ear infection now but the earliest doctors will be open now to get antibiotics will of course be Tuesday.
Can it wait this long or will I need to get help sooner?

If your worried take your dd to the out of hours doctors. If you arent sure where your closest is the NHS direct helpline should be able to tell you. If it is an infection sooner you can get antibiotics the better. IMO

They almost never give anti-b's anyway for ear infections so probably won't make any difference.

Usual practice here for DS who suffered with recurrent ear infections, is double dosing with calpol and nurofen. Staggering the times. So nurofen at 8pm, calpol 11pm, nurofen 2am, calpol 5 am, nurofen 8am, etc etc. We did used to wake to give during the night, as if you let the painkillers wear off completely then it seems to take a few doses to get the pain back under control again.

Oh, thanks, that's really helpful to know that she probably wouldnt be given antibiotics anway. Will keep on with the caloprofen dh bought.

She might recover without meds

DD1 has had ear infections in the past... some treated with ABs and some not

IME a high temp followed by a 'popped' drum which leaks smelly, infected discharge that doesn't clear up by itself after 3 or so days is a trip to the GP

DD seems better able to 'fight it off' the older she gets

Hope she feels better soon

DD2 was the same on Wednesday night, so I took her to the Dr on Thursday. We were told that they rarely give antibiotics for ear infections these days, but in dd's case her ear was very red/purple so she was given some.

I'd go for the calpol/nurofen combo.

Ok, i've posted this before because this is what have used on me when i've had ear infections since a very early age, but i will stress fisrt as ointed out by another mumsnetter that it is not recommended putting foreign objects in your ear, there, health and safety covered first, but, if it looks like your dc is getting pain n ear, prob from infection and you can't get to see gp for a while, my mum used to warm up some bg standard olive oil (test it on your wrist, this is going in the ear so it needs to be warm, not hot!) then dribble into the offending ear, get your dc to lie down with achey ear up so oil will dribble dowen nto ear, and pop a littole bit of cotton wool into ear to form a plug with a bit of oil on jsut to help things along. it won't clear the infection but i promise it does help the poain, if not more or less takes it away, i still use this now when i get ear aches, but if it gets really bad abnd the paidn is obvioulosy distressing your dc then just go straight to a&e, i've had to do this before and they've given a temp small dose of antibiotics (can't rerembver if it was a short coyrse to clear infection or just to tide you iover till you get to see gp who can give full course) Hope this helps!

THe only problem I will have now is telling dh we don't need to panic about seeing a doctor as mumsnet said so!

I think as long as you can manage the fever and pain with the Calpol/Nurofen combo not seeing a Dr is fine

Exactly what soapbox re analgesia also try a warm hot water bottle (or similar) wrapped in a towel and applying to that ear. But it is worth contacting HNS direct (0845 46 47) or your on call doctor for a medical opinion as very occasionally ear infections can be more serious.