3yr old poorly

[kitten_uk2]

my husband took my son to our doctors last night because he had not stopped crying for 4 hrs and was whimpering like a dog, the doctor said he had a suspected ear infection but wouldnt give him anything.
when i got home from work last night my son was red hot and looked not himself, he wouldnt have calpol to get temperature down, ive tried it with a biscuit and syringe he wont take it and chokes. last night was up and down he slept inbetween his whippers and tonight is just the same, hes sleeping at the mo, keeps rubbing his ear and crying, and again is red hot. i dont understand why the doc didnt give him anything, what do you surgest i do in this case?

[tigwig]

I would phone your doctors and you should be able to see an emergency doctor. I would have thought that if he has an ear infection he would need antibiotics. What is his temperature? He really needs to get calpol or nurofen in him to reduce it, can you bribe him with sweets or something?! NHS direct will also be able to give you advice, phone them on 0845 4647

[toby99]

They don't seem to give antibiotics for ears. My daughter had the same and they said I was to give her ibruprofen (spelling?) rather than calpol. I would ring them now though for more advice.

[kitten_uk2]

he wont take medicine, either with bribes or on chocolate, so im struggling with that one, so will the infection go away on its own?

[cruella]

I would persevere to get some calpol into him.
Failing that, if he has a high temperature, you really need to get that down.
Sponge him with tepid water and if you have a fan, put it above his head and body to cool him own.
Call NHS 24. Never take chances with children, no matter how mild the infection is.
Good luck.
Hope he is better soon.

[ethanryan]

hi im afraid it might be a case of someone holding him while you give him calpol. if you put the spoon on the back of the tongue and tip it in while his head is up he will have no choice but to swallow it. need to get spoon on back of tongue though.
try putting a hot water bottle in his pillow case and get him to lie on it. the heat will help take away the pain.

[norven-lass]

Sorry - but I have to contradict the previous comment regarding the hot water bottle - I use a hot water bottle for tummy pains, but would not recommend for a child with a temperature. This could in fact raise the already dangerous high temperature and cause convulsions and even worse.

I would recommend the NHS direct - I have used them when my own daughter was ill and they were very good.

I was told by a nurse that the water you use to sponge a child down to reduce the temperature does not have to be cold or tepid. Even warm water (but not hot obviously) cools as the skin reacts to being wet.

As for the medicine - I found that my children did not like Calpol or boots version of the same. Ibuprofen is also a pain killer but works as a anti inflammatory and can acutally be given as well as calpol (but not at the same time - I was told to stagger by an hour). I got around the taste issue but mixing with honey - fortunately my children have a sweet tooth.

Seek advice - dont let one doctors mistake cost you dearly.
Hope your soon feels better soon.

[lou 26]

How high is his temperature? if its not dangerously high then i would sponge him down and put a fan by him. Your body fights infection by raising it's temperature to one that the infection cannot survive in so its not always a good thing to bring the temp down too much. I would definitely get a second opinion from a doctor though, I wouldnt take any chances. Hope he feels better soon xxx

[messyjessy12]

hi slightly heat up some olive oil and put on some cotton wool and put in his ear,will sooth it hopefully x

[bigmamma]

If you are using a fan don't train it onto him directly as this will cause his body to shut down and so increase his core temperature . Children of this age have not developed the blood brain barrier and can heat their brain in the febrile state , causing febrile convulsions. Please seek a second opinion if your child is in discomfort and refuses all attempts to bring his temperature down. There is always the option of the doc prescribing a panadol suppository if his temperature stays peaked. All the best xxxx

[pj1331]

i would check with nhs direct, dont use a fan unless his temperature is very high, and do your best as someone said to get the calpol down, that will help, hope he is soon better, they cause real pain in children

[bigmamma]

How is your little one today kitten ? xxx

[Ice.Maiden]

Oh the poor little mite! Ear infections are horribly painful. I used to put a warm flannel over my childrens' ears, and then give Calpol (by using a small syringe if necessary. That way it can be squirted into the child's mouth and will go straight down their throats) - but your doctor sounds somewhat uncaring!! Hope you managed to get the little boy looked at by someone else - if only to tell you that it IS an ear infection. x

[clare_1]

Put the correct dose and ibuprofen liquid into a drink and give it a good stir. My son is nearlly five and i still have to do this. It works though and we use it with some patients atthe hospital. It the problem persists more then 3 days ur doctor will probably give you anti biotics but this is a last resort with little ones. I really feel for you. A sick child breaks your heart. Hope he gets better soon. Please keep us informed.xx