Help - So this is the deal, I had my daughters ears peiced last month (She is 7 months old). Everything is has been fine till this morning. I noticed her ear looked swollen. I looked at the back of it and it was crusty and when I pushed on her ear and puss came out. I tried taking the earring out but with her wiggling it was to hard. So where do I go from here? Another bad thing, I dont have medical insurance till March 1st. So any ideas would be great!
Nicole
2007-02-24 05:56:49 · 9 answers · asked by pixiewe 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ First Aid
So I am reading and hearing that you should NOT take out the earring because it helps the puss to drain. If you take the earring out the puss with just stay in the ear and could harbor infection. Anyone agree with this???
2007-02-24 06:11:16 · update #1
How to Treat an Infected Ear Piercing
An infection can take 24 to 48 hours to develop and in most cases it’s quicker than that. With this in mind you should think about your aftercare and what you have done to cause the infection.
Steps
Be sure that the piercing is infected, and you are not actually allergic to the jewelry.
Make sure that the piercing isn't just irritated. Irritation will make your piercing red, swollen, sore, and it will lymph (have "crusties" and seep) longer and more than normal. Infection will make it red around the piercing and relatively large area of surrounding tissue, sore at the site and inches away, and it will seep dark yellow to green pus. An infection is also usually warm to the touch.
Determine the cause of the infection. What did you use to clean the piercing? Did you wash your hands? How often are you cleaning your piercing? Once you have determined the cause, you can usually make the changes and it should heal.
Mix 1 cup hot, distilled water and 1/8 teaspoon pure sea salt in a small cup. Immerse piercing in solution or dampen cotton wool or tissue with the solution and place on piercing. If using cotton wool or tissue make sure it is sterile! Also, use moderate pressure against the piercing with the wool, even if it may feel hot and uncomfortable. Do this once a day. Do not make the solution stronger - it will only irritate it and slow the healing process. Do not do it more often - this will also irritate it and slow the healing process. The piercing SHOULD drain during and after, no matter how gross it is a good sign.
If the piercing does not begin to improve in a few days, go back to your piercer and ask for more in-depth advice. Infections are very serious. Even if it is just an ear lobe. Don't fool yourself - if it is infected then apparently the LITHA (leave it the hell alone) method doesn't work for you and it won't heal itself.
Tips
You MUST follow your piercer's aftercare. They tell you it for a reason.
If you did a DIY piercing, consult the Association of Professional Piercers webpage (in the external links section) for aftercare instructions.
If you're still in doubt or not confident, then go see your piercer.
Warnings
Infections are serious. You can loose body parts if left untreated. If it spreads to your blood stream you could die. Go see a doctor the minute that your muscles become sore, your glands are swollen, or you get red streaks.
If you cannot see part of the jewelry anymore go directly to a piercer.
Do NOT remove the jewelry - it is the only way that all the pus is going to be able to drain. If you take it out then the infection will be trapped in your body.
Things You'll Need
Pure Sea Salt (regular salt has iodine with is VERY bad for a piercing)
Sterile Cotton buds
Sterile Tissue
2007-02-24 06:01:49 · answer #1 · answered by crowfeathers 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
ok Nicole, she has an infection but you can treat it at home, it is important that you clean the air with Bio-Septic solution (you can get it in a local pharmacy) this is specifically for pierced ears, it sounds like the back of the earring was on too tight or she is having an allergic reaction. Are they gold? She should only be wearing gold earrings. Wait until she falls asleep in your arms and have your husband or someone to take the Bio-Septic solution to her ear with a cotton ball, make sure you move the earring around with the solution on it. Clean the earring good. Good luck
2007-02-24 06:45:06 · answer #2 · answered by fluffyflo_1999 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your daughter's ear is obviously very infected. You should take her to a doctor to get treatment. In the meantime, get someone to help you hold her still so that you can get the earring out. Wash the area with soap and warm water and treat it with an antiseptic solution several times a day. But it sounds like the infection is pretty bad so please don't rule out getting her to a doctor. Another thing, if you want your daughter to use earrings for pierced ears after she's healed, make sure they are made of gold. Other metals may cause irritation and infection.
2007-02-24 06:08:34 · answer #3 · answered by mariepphm 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
When I got errings years ago, I was told for the first 24 hours do not take them off, and then after that to apply alcohol on a cotton ball both front and back, twice a day. But I would apply alcohol to loosen the crust, then remove the erring and clean the ear,before putting them back in, and twice a day I would apply alcohol to back and front, Keep an eye on it.
2007-02-24 11:06:29 · answer #4 · answered by lennie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She could just be allergic to the TYPE of earing.
Just like, I can only wear Sterling Silver.
Sounds like a little infection. Put rubbing alcohol or peroxcide on it often, and don't forget to turn the earring often too, so it is spinning inside.
2007-02-24 06:05:11 · answer #5 · answered by page starshiine.™ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Clean, clean, clean.....some Hydrogen Peroxide will work just fine. Wet a Q-tip and move the earring away from the hole as much as possible and clean the area. don't take out the earring, leaving it in is better, but..do move the earring around from time to time to allow drainage.......Been there...got a 4 yr old ans she went thru the same thing..Good luck!!
2007-02-24 11:47:13 · answer #6 · answered by imgonnabarn2 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a little infection. Put rubbing alcohol or peroxcide on it often, and don't forget to turn the earring often too, so it is spinning inside. I remember my mom teaching me that when I had troubles after getting them peirced.
2007-02-24 06:02:16 · answer #7 · answered by Mathlady 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it is infected you need to take her to the doc and get this treated. Insurance or not.
2007-02-24 06:01:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
take the earring out...clean it with alcohol and put some bacitracin or neosporin ointment on it.....just a dab....keep it clean and if it isn't better in a couple of days or she starts running a fever, then you will have to take her to the doctor...good luck
2007-02-24 06:00:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋