Ear infections.....

[chirpygirl]

Okay, I posted yesterday about my DD's ear infection and taking her to A+E (thanks for all replies)

I have been in and out today so have only just had the chance to post this but after sleeping through last night (which I was NOT expecting) she is totally changed today, she is almost back to normal and has only had one dose of paracetemol BUT she has a large amount of dried pus in her ear that has been there since she got up.

BIL has had a word with nurse's at work and they think she may have perforated her eardrum, has anyone ever had this and what does it mean?
Am taking her to GP tomorrow to get it checked but woudl appreciate any advice/experiences so I know what to expect.

All it means is that she had an infection behind the eardrum that built up a lot of pus (hence the pain and fever), but that last night the pus drained out through her eardrum, relieving the pressure (hence no more pain) and draining the site of the infection so it'll start to heal (hence no more fever).

It's actually really common in kids and shouldn't affect her hearing or health in the long term - the GP will have a peek tomorrow and check everything is healing like it should.

It's actually really common in kids and shouldn't affect her hearing or health in the long term

Ooh, just what I wanted to hear! thanks!

MIL is being a cow, my mum can't rememebr and my 'font of all knowledge' in RL is currently in labour with her 4th so I had to ask here!

oh that is SO familiar. the A&E pain was a build up of fluid behind the ear drum as MrsB said, the pressure causes the pain and then the ear drum splits and the fluid drains out. It is the end of the pain and then the ear drum will heal. It happened to DS last year and me the year before!

They heal up no problem, only long term consequencse if it happens loads and loads of times and you get a slight loss of hearing - which is what i ended up with, but just means noisy pubs are a bit of a prob - not diff from many other people.

Don't worry - very normal!

really really - it is so common - she will be so fine!

scary when you don't know though!

Thanks for that, am a bit more relieved, guess it means my swimming meet ups are buggered now then! Oh well!

only temporarily - if it heals like it should she should be swimming again in a couple of weeks.

we hold off swimming for a few weeks after and the they ignore me when I tell them not to go underwater too much!

Well, it is perforated (I knew it!) but the lovely, lovely locum said we can go swimming as long as I don't dunk her as splashes won't matter as it is water 'forced' into the ear that is the problem, so swimming it is!

Yes, plain water shouldn't go in, something to do with its tension. If it's mixed with soap or bubble bath the water tension changes and then it can go in.