earache

[gossipgirl]

my son came in earlier complaining of earache that has progressively got worse as the hours have gone by. I went down to the chemist to see if there is anything he could have to ease it. I was told there is absolutley nothibg to give him without prescription, not even calpol now as there not allowed to sell it anymore! I doubt he will get seen this week by the doctor and were meant to be going on holiday on fri........any suggestions or tips would be great. Hes 9 years old. thanks

[Sqad]

Warm olive oil and surely you have Calpol.

You realise that it will be dangerous for him to fly with ear problems.

Call out the Emergency Dr, as your son will need antibiotics.

Almost certainly Otitis media. Worrying I am sure to you, but it will certainly settle down with the appropriate treatment.

[gossipgirl]

thankfully were not going abroad just hope it eases by friday as hes looking forward to going to butlins. I used the last of the calpol after my daughter had her MMR so im quite frustrated that they wouldnt sell me any! thanks for the suggestion i will raid the cupboard now lol

[Sqad]

gossip. if you have Ibuprofen tablets and he can take tablets, then give him half a 600mg tablet or half of a 400mg tablet.

I went to Butlins years ago, will tell you about it when the Adult Section arrives on AB.

[saxy_jag]

I had something very similar back in February and was on the verge of visiting casualty. Side of my face was out to the extent of about half a tennis ball and I swear I'd rather have toothache.

It was a Saturday, so braved it out with a mix of Ibuprofen and alcohol (but since your lad's just 9, not something I recommend) and saw my doctor on the Monday. She diagnosed an infection and gave me antibiotic tablets because the ear was too swollen for drops, and it began to clear within the day.

I had been putting olive oil in earlier in the week because I had thought it was just a mild earache caused by a wax build up. I was told it probably hadn't been a good idea, because anything like that you put in there can exacerbate the infection - especially since there wasn't much wax in there to begin with so it had been a totally useless exercise in any case.

Lesson learned and now the only thing that goes in my ears is swimplugs.

I suggest a trip to the GP asap if it's still no better in the morning. You wouldn't want him being ill on holiday, and kids' ears can be so easily damaged.

[Sqad]

saxy....different ball game.

Yours was otitis externa

His is otitis media.

[tamborine]

My mother used to pour a drop of oil in a teaspoon (Singers sewing machine) that she heated with a lighter - down my lugs......worked a treat & I stopped sqeaking ;)

[Panic Button]

Chemists are not allowed to sell Calpol?

Has the world gone mad?

[nohorn]

My two children grew up in the 60's and 70's. They both had ear infection more often than not having it. I'm not sure but my husband was a pipe smoker at the time. They may have had allergies to that or other second hand smoke. They also had the croup often enough. Each time they had high fever. The point I am getting at is that they each were prescribed liquid antibiotics (mostly erthromyican sp)--so often.I kept record with my second kid and will report how many times. It was enough to fill a 10 x 12 room I am sure. Now I read where antibiotics for ear infection do not really help that the infection would just run its course anyway. On at least two occasions with each kid their ear drum would burst and now they both have scars on their drum. I don't know where the anwser is. It is enough to drive a normal parent off to drink.

[reefgal]

Hot water bottle(not to hot) with towel wrapped around it and placed on your sons ear to ease the pain. Phone NHS direct they will advise you if your son is old enough to take parecetamol tablets.

[gossipgirl]

thanks for alll your replies, my son did have that otitis media thing that squad mentioned before, he ended up looking like shrek that his face and ear was so swollen, i know i shouldnt laugh but looking back he did look quite funny! he seems to be a bit better today and has not complained of it so im not sure what to do now. He was playing out in the rain with his butties yesterday and it was very heavy and windy so im now wondering if that is the reason he had earache. could that be a possibillity? Im going to keep on my mission to get calpol from somewhere as its always handy to have some at hand with 2 children, but thanks squad for the suggestion of using some ibroprofen if i cant, i didnt even think of that as most of them dont say you should use them on under 12;s