Swimmer's Ear in children

[CharityLynn]

Mt son was diagnosed with Swimmer's ear and he's in horrible pain. They gave us some ear drop antibiotics which which just started using today and I've been giving him Motrin for pain. I just noticed the discharge from his ear looks like there is some blood. Just wondering if anyone else has had this and how you dealt with it. I've never had this and didn't realize how bad it would be. It has my 9 year old son in tears

I know there can be discharge just wondering if the darker (bloody looking) is normal. There isn't a lot of the bloody looking stuff but there is a lot of discharge.

 

[mchames]

We are swimmer's ear pros!

DD8 gets them often enough to have a PRN prescription for the Ciprodex drops. Ugh. With that being said, I have never noticed "bloody" discharge. Her discharge usually clears up within 24-36 hours of using the Ciprodex and is typically yellowish in color.

Was the discharge "bloody" when you saw the doctor? If so, I would give it 24 hours of using the drops and if it doesn't clear up call the doctor again. If the discharge looks different than it did when the doctor saw your son, I would give the doctor's office a call now.

Just my two cents. Good luck.
Mary

 

[CharityLynn]

He didn't have any discharge really yesterday. I did call and they want him in tomorrow. Poor kid.

 

[mchames]

I hope he feels better. I know they hurt like heck and my DD is always really ornery when she has one. Ugh.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

definitely follow up- and let us know what the doctor says.

We spend a month in the hospital with my 10 yo earlier this year- she had an "ear infection" over Christmas holidays- was treated with antibiotics- symptoms went away- we went about our business- about 3 weeks later she complains that her ear hurts- I look and the area behind her ear is swollen. DH take her to the doctor first thing- she's rushed for a CT scan- then called back ASAP to the hospital and promptly admitted- then shipped across state to another hospital where we spend a month taking care of an epidural abscess and mastoiditis- caused from an ear infection that didn't resolve when we and the doctors thought it would.

So the moral of my story here...

Even once you get it checked out tomorrow- make sure that in a few weeks- even if the symptoms are all gone and it seems clear- go back and get the doctor to look again- to make sure nothing is still there.

I would hate anyone to experience what we had to...

 

[mrsmom]

my dd had this and it was a rupture ear drum, from the infection it will repair itself.
Kim

 

[CruiserMom]

My DD10 just got over swimmer's ear a few weeks ago. Her doctor gave her antibiotic ear drops AND an oral antibiotic. She never had discharge. Tell the doctor right away about that. I does sound like a ruptured ear drum. I've heard that is very painful.

 

[CharityLynn]

Well it turned out to being nothing, they siad it was obviously still infected but his ear drum was fine. Ok here we are 3 days after starting the ear drops and now his ear is swelling up. Any advice on how to get the swelling down. Here's a picture of his infected ear (his right ear..top picture) and his normal ear for comparison (bottom picture)

 

[CruiserMom]

Sounds like the antibiotic drops are not working...we had to switch to a different antibiotic drop, plus have her take an oral antibiotic. After 3 days you should have seen dramatic improvement, I would think. I'd call the doctor. Poor baby, that must hurt so much!

 

[CharityLynn]

Well I took him in this morning and they say he has a secondary infection in his outer ear. They put him on an oral antibiotic now in addition to the drops. Hopefully He'll ok next week. He's doing ok, not complaining about it or anything says it doesn't really hurt.

But I am glad I got him in today.

 

[Amlee]

Ok this is going to be gross, so I'm warning you a head of time.

Swimmer's ear even treated can turn into a fungus on the ear wall. It's a deep, dark area that is just great for fungus to grow when it gets wet. Ear drops just add to the moisture. It will hurt like heck and itch some thing awful. Parts of the fungus will break off and it's has the dark dried blood look to it.

My ENT doctor gave me prescription Lamsil to control the fungus. My ears have stopped hurting for the first time ever in my life.