Ruptured Ear Drum in 3 year old - what happens now?

[b&bsmummy]

My 3 yr olds ear drum has busted, i just took her back to the doctor, he was pretty relaxed and said that there is so much puss in the ear drum, that he cant see where its busted, so to come back in a couple of day. My husband is worried that she may need to have her ear drained? Does anyone know, she is in quite a bit of pain.

Her symptoms started on Sunday night after we flew home from Sydney, the pressure in the plane caused her ear drum to swell, she was in so much pain by 12pm I took her to hospital and they said that her ear was severely enlarged inside, and put her on medication straight away. They said that it shouldnt burst. But last night she had very high fevers and was in pain every hour, then at 3am she woke up very irritable and i gave her more medication, then this morning i noticed the pus leaking out....

She has been on pain stop and nurofen since Sunday night and Amoxil. I have had to stop the antiobiotic because it is causing her to have stomach problems. So i am still giving her the pain relief medication only.

Has anyone had this happen? What usually happens. Will she need to have the ear drained or see a specialist....

Should i take her back to hospital or will it just heal on its own....

Any help would be great.

thanks everyone.

[rainbow01]

Hi, My 1 year old had problems with there ear which is called glu ear fluid build up for months now, and doctors or antibiotics dont seem to help. They have said if dosn't get better will need to take to specialist to drain ear, which involves a small operation.

Try taking your child to a homeopath or osteopath, Ive heard alot of good things about them and on how they can help. Been taking my bub to a cranio-sacral osteopath healer and has improved so much from the first visit so far.

Its just amazing what they can do with there calm soothing gentle touch. If you have private health insurance it is claimable too which helps. Good luck and hope your bubs gets better soon. :)

[c38]

Poor little one:hugs: Hope she's feeling better now, often they do after the drum has ruptured as it lets the pressure out.
The drum usually heals fine on it's own once the infection has settled. She will need to see a specialist if she has recurring episodes.

She will probably be ok without antibiotics, espescially now her ear has self drained. But if her temp is still high in a day or so, or she is unwell in herself..ie lethargic, not drinking etc, then its worth discussing getting a different one if the amoxil upsets her gut.

Heres some info from the Royal Childrens in Melb
http://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/factsheets.cfm?doc_id=3720

[WorkingClassMum]

The ear drum ruptures only after a build up of naturally occuring fluid. The eusction tube that normally drains the inner ear down the back of the throat has become blocked or inflammed.

ET's become blocked for a variety of reasons. Bubs may have had a cold or virus thats inflammed or infected that area - most common reason. Occassioanally ET's can be blocked due to food intolerences or repeat reflux.

ET's are less prone to becoming blocked as the child grows older and their immunity system matures and as the child's neck becomes longer and the ET's run more verticle rather than horizontal, and also as a child becomes more active and spends more of their life upright.

An ear drum normally heals all by itself, and generally finishes draining all by itself after a rupture. Very rarely the ear will need draining, generally after repeat EI's and only if the fluid becomes thick - again - quite rare.

AB's are often prescribed as it's either an infection thats blocked the tubes, or because the ear drum can become infected.

Nureofen or ibuprofen are good for EI's as it reduces inflammation.

If bub's is having tummy problems with AB's go back to your Dr and either get a different script, or check that you're dosing correcting - ie with food, or before food etc.

Whils not knocking holistic healing - no amount of osteo helped my DS who'se had numerous repeat EI's.

You would consider seeing an ENT (Ear Nose & Throat specialist) after repeat EI's. Then an ENT may consider putting grommets into the childs ear drum. A short surgery under general. Grommet look like tiny cotton reels, with a drainage hole in the centre. They keep the ear pressure even and provide a drainage hole if the ET's become blocked again. Grommets stay in the ear drum wall for about 6 months or so, fall out of their own accord, and then fall out the outer ear canal by themselves. Very very rarely they'll require surgical removel. My DS has had three sets of grommets - quite unusual to need that many and we've never had a problem with the removal of grommets.

EI's are a very common childhood complaint. It's rarely a repeat problem, and many children have at least one EI in their lifetime.

PM me if you want any other info.

Good luck with bubs and definitaly go back to the GP

[3blue&1pink]

My middle guy has had FIVE burst ear drums now, and each and every time it was AB's then once the leaking had stopped go back and make sure its all healed OK.

They ended up taking a swab and found 3 bugs were growing each time in his ear and the cause of it was water.. I stopped letting him have showers, baths only and he hasent had another problem.

He never had it drained..

[bossoflatch]

omg ..i told you my boys sounded like your ds kayteo :S

must be the allergy thing afterall :rolleyes:

[Lastcenturymum]

Our DD had a burst ear drum at 2 - she ended up with multiple ear infections and antibiotics - went to an ENT and did the hear tests etc, she had 3 sets of grommets and one set of long term, plus her tonsils out - between 2-8. Really made a difference to her. When the have lots of ab's their system can get so mucked up but it is worth seeing a specialist to make sure their hearing is ok. You do need to keep water out when they have grommets, you can get expensive ear plugs made or use blu tac or eary putty and a tight fitting cap.

We ended up seeing a naturopath later on for all the stuff up the ab's caused her system and had to elimate lots of stuff from her diet for a while. So don't let ear infections and drugs drag on - ask for a ENT referral.