He has never had any issues with his ears. He's acting normal but does touch his head every so often and say it hurts (since 3:30 today). I did use q-tips last night to clean out just the outer part of his ear. Even though our doctor has told me to stop using q-tips.
I'm freaking out. What could it be? Should I take him to the emergency room?
Thanks.
no q-tips on a child, ever. do you have something like med express, or doctor's care offices around you? google. usually they're open until midnight. better than ER. if not, give motrin and take first thing in the morning.
ERs are for emergencies. This is not. Maybe he has some water I. His ear. Warm compress will help.
No don't go to ER.
DO check his temperature. He could have can ear infection or if he's a swimmer, could have swimmers ear or just some wax buildup.
DON'T ignore it. If he has no fever, I'd call my pedi in the am. If he has fever, I might go to a Care Now or Urgent care office.
It could be an ear infection, but you don't need to freak out. They are common enough.
Can your dr.'s office get him in? ER visits can be costly.
It could be an ear infection. He doesn't need to go to ER, just his regular pedi or an urgent care center if your pedi is not available.
Listen to your doctor and stop putting stuff in his ear!
If it continues to hurt, I would try get him to the doctor after school tomorrow.
If he has a fever, keep him from school and take him. Give him some motrin for the pain.
Doesn't sound freak out or ER material.
I.:
Welcome to mamapedia!!
STOP USING q-tips in your son's ears!! You can slip and puncture his ear drum!!
here's my experience.
My son complained that he wasn't feeling well in July - he had a fever - 102.9 - the highest it's ever been - I called our pediatrician and they told me to take him to the Urgent Care. I did - his ears and lungs were fine - they felt it was a virus - we came home after they reduced his fever. This was Wednesday - on Friday - he was crying in pain and still not feeling well (he's 13 years old). I took him to the pediatrician. His ear was severely infected. The doctor stated - ear infections can come on quickly. It was just "brewing".
I would call the pediatrician and find out what they want you to do. If he does NOT have a fever - tell them. If he does - tell them. I would NOT take him to the Emergency Room unless he shows other symptoms.
My husband? His ears had been feeling "full" - started on Wednesday. Saturday night at 0100 he wakes me up, panting and telling me his ears really hurt.....we try ear drops - only made it worse. I took him to the Urgent Care - the doctor was "IMPRESSED" with the infection he had - gave him antibiotics on the spot and sent us home. Telling us if he has blood from his ear to return immediately....they also gave him some pain meds - next morning - wakes up and says he feels GREAT!! I said - let me see your ear...there was blood there...his ear drum had burst overnight. This just happened in July.
Talk to the pediatrician. Don't freak out. STOP using q-tips.
Good luck!
Give him a dose of decongestant and see if that doesn't help clear it up. It's high allergy season....so consider an antihistamine like claratin as well.
Put a heating pad on low on his ear, give him some Tylenol, and make an appointment with his regular pediatrician.
Never give a decongestant for an ear ache.
It makes the fluid thicker and harder to clear out of the eustachian tubes.
If he has had a cold, then give him an expectorant (Mucinex or Robitussin) and make sure he's drinking plenty of water (keep him well hydrated).
It could be his six year molars coming in.
Probably an ear infection. A course of antibiotics will do the trick. If your doc has walk-in hours, these are super simple to diagnose--they just look in his ear and see a bunch of goop!
Its an ear ache. I would put a hot water bottle on his ear and see if the heat will help. Also massage the point behind the ear just above where the jaw hits the ear. That will help open up the tubes if they are clogged.
If he starts running a temp or really starts acting sick make an appointment, but otherwise he should be fine.
One of the best things I have ever bought is an otoscope to keep at home. You can get them at wal-mart. Now I know whether or not it's an ear infection before we go to the doctor.
Warm compress and ibuprofen for the pain, but take him to the doctor.
Probably an ear infection. Get him in to see the pediatrician today! No need to freak out -- it should be easily treated. Hang in there, mama!
Given your recent use of q-tips I would guess:
- irritated ear canal (due to the q-tips) - PLEASE, PLEASE listen to your doctor and do not ever use them again
- otitis externa (swimmer's ear) is an infection of the ear canal and also caused by use of q-tips as they introduce bacteria from the outer ear into the delicate environment of the ear canal
- wax buildup (also caused by, guess what? q-tips) because you actually push more wax back into the ear canal than you clean out
or the possibility of an injury caused by the q-tip.
I would not take him to the ER but give Tylenol for the pain and make an appt with the doctor in the morning.
Good luck.
This sounds like an ear infection. It needs to be treated, but it's not a reason to panic. Just call the doctor and say, "I think my son has an ear infection. When can you see him?" Then, take him in. They'll take a look at his ears and prescribe antibiotics if he needs them. Give him the full course of antibiotics (exactly as instructed) and you're done. You do need to take him in to the proverbial shop for this one, but it's certainly not a reason to freak out or take him to the ER.
maybe he has an ear infection? I would take him to the doctor or ER-and I would not wait. The only other thing you can do is use a tiny drop of either gin or vodka in the ear-make sure the liquid is not cold or hot-see if that helps-good luck.
My grandson never really had any fevers with his ear infections. They were very very deep. So deep the antibiotics he took didn't touch them. He became deaf. When the ENT went in to put tubes in he found debris from all the old infections that didn't get healed through antibiotics. The tubes worked and he can hear now.
It sounds like he has swimmers ear. That's an infection of the outer ear. Sometimes it just needs antibiotic ear drops and sometimes, if it's bad enough, an oral antibiotic as well.
You do need to take him to the doctor for a diagnosis and medicine. But NOT the emergency room. That will cost you a fortune. Go to the ped.
