My son has a whopper of an earache! What do I do?

Question

He tugged on his ear and started putting his finger in it, but never cried or even let me know he was in pain (hes 15 months) so I had no idea. Yesterday he vomitted all over his crib, and has had the runs so bad. I gave him nothing but pedialite and if he was hungry I followed the BRAT diet, but late afternoon his butt was bleeding and he was crying so hysterical that I took him to urgent care because I knew I no longer had the situation under control. They gave him an antibiotic and nystacin ointment for his butt and told me only to rinse him in the bathtub no wiping at all.
My question is this, now what! Its a beautiful day, all the little tots are outside, he is waving and whining by the window, can I take him outside? Can he get dirty, the risk of taking a bath God can he ever get water in his ear? The diarreha has stopped and he is in otherwise good spirits? Any suggestions for I no longer trust my gut instincts :(

to add some details it sounds like some people don't understand, I DID take him to a doctor, of course, and I made a follow up April 2nd. Of course I give him tylenol, what do you think I am some sort of monster? And to the lady who gave me the lecture on smoking, uh thanks, but no one in the house is a smoker, so thats not the problem. The problem was an ear infection, a doctor confirmed it. He did not stick something in his ear, its infected. And I took him on a short walk, pulled a skully over his ears and let him walk around the grocery store. I wouldn't let him go for any amount of time in pain or suffering, I am a good mom who just wanted to know about what can I do to help him and prevent it from happening again. Thanks for those who took the time to actually answer my question without being all wierd and judgy. Other moms can be the best or the worst resource huh? Thanks again.

Oh, and I use any kind of butt ointment every time I wipe him after a BM anyways, he normally has no diaper rashes ever, this is the first, and the doctor gave me a special prescription ointment, and its working, and I don't wipe him for a couple of days, I wash him in the shower. He is also on an anitbiotic, azythromycin, for 5 days. Like I said, of course I am taking care of him, I just wanted to know how to treat and prevent an ear infection from reoccuring. Thanks to the people who actually got that! You were wonderful and I am looking into simisiliac. Oh and olive oil! Great advice, thanks!

Answer 1

YES! If he feels like playing that is a good sign. And wou only need an inch or two of water to clean his backside, so unless he lays down - sideways, the chances of getting a good amount of water in a sore ear are slim. If you are still concerned, put cotton in his ear. There are great homepathic remedies for earache, too. You might want to research those.

Answer 2

Little ones are so hard to figure out sometimes. My twelve year old was just diagnosed with an ear infection, sinus infection, and sore throat. He never said a word! The only way I found out was when he complained when I touched his ear to see how his new glasses were fitting!

Needless to say, I know what you're saying. I've dealt with ear infections and diaper rashes with my little ones, too. My mom's advice was the best, and I'll pass it on to you (of course some you are already aware of and are doing...good job Mom!)...

Give Tylenol as directed around the clock until the pain subsides, at least 24-48 hours.

If you have a playpen, take the diaper off and put on a long T-shirt to prevent chills. If the weather is warm enough, you can set up out in the sun. Be sure to hang a blanket on the side to keep the bulk of the breeze off his ears.

Use a handheld sprayer in the tub to rinse his behind. Once the bulk is rinsed down the drain, plug the tub and run lukewarm water. Let him play for a while with NO SOAP. Save the full baths for when he's no longer irritated.

My son has chronic impacted ear wax, which we treat with warmed sweet oil rather than olive oil. Drop the bottle in a cup of hot tap water and let sit 2-3 minutes. Use enough to fill the canal and rub the base of his ear to make sure it goes all the way in. If you can hold him down long enough to do this, he can jump up right away. He'll drip oil, but there will be enough in his ear to do the job. Don't use cotton because he will either pull it out and try to eat it or poke it too far into his ear. Save the cotton until he's at least 3 years old. This will bring comfort to mild earaches, but not do much good once an infection has started. Some kids are prone to ear infections, others are not. There's not much you can do to prevent it. Just keep an eye out for symptoms and get him to the doc ASAP. If he develops chronic ear infections, he could get tubes in his ears to help. Only time will tell.

I wish you luck.

Blessings

Answer 3

Well, I don't think there is anything you can really do to PREVENT an ear infection. It's just something that happens. I was an EARACHE PRONE child. I always went to the doctor and got the pink bubble gum medicine which i was always so excited about (You know it tasted good!). My earaches always used to and still do come on at night. In the middle of the night! My mom and grandma used to use a trick to get me through the night and through till I could get to the doctor the next day. First and foremost - Tylenol is a mom's best friend! So I immediately got a shot of that and then my mom would pour several cups of salt into a frying pan and heat it up. When it was hot she would put in the center of a wash cloth and pull the edges together. She wrapped a rubber band or two VERY tightly around it so it was a bag of salt. Then just lay it up aginst the aching ear and the heat would ease the pain enough so I could sleep. BE CAREFUL!! The salt can get really hot and it can burn a little person very easily. Just monitor it when you heat it up!
Hope the little guy feels better!!

Answer 4

My kids, fortunately, were never bothered that much by earaches but my husband kept getting bad recurrent earaches one year and the doctors couldn't seem to do much about it. One thing he found that relieved the pain is to soak a washcloth in hot water, as hot as you can safely make it, wring it out well and place it over the ear. Your son should lie on the cloth on his side. The heat (and gravity) should unplug the tubes in the ear and give some relief. I've also read that using a hair dryer (set on low, and placed about 18-20 inches away from the ear) also helps.

If your son seems to be feeling better, I don't see why you can't let him go outside. Maybe put a hat on him which covers his ears and protects them from the cold and wind. You should be able to bathe him even when he's got an earache - just don't get a lot of water in his ear and he should be fine.

Don't let those judgmental people make you feel badly and make you question your instincts. It sounds like you're a very caring mother.

Answer 5

I've been told by a friend many years ago to use a little vinegar on a Q-tip, " do not put the Q-tip into the ear', but let alittle of the vinegar drip or drain into the ear. The reason: The Ear inside is dark and warm, a perfect breading ground for bacteria. Water gets in the ear from bath/swimming, etc.
Bacteria can begin to grow, then an ear infection. Vinegar has somthing in it that will kill these bacteria.

Answer 6

Is he contagious with anything? Is he running a fever? You were told to rinse him only not to bathe him-so, you would assume getting dirty may not be timely. Try a warm compress on his ear. What did the doctor tell you to do for pain/discomfort?? Follow their order and he will get better much faster. Play a game with him--spend some Mommy time with him. Make a puppet out of a sock.. Make a fort with a sheet and chairs... have a special snack in the fort.... I'd keep him a little quiet so he doesn't bump his sore bum. Let the antibiotics work. Good luck!!

Answer 7

comming from a mom of three sons, one whom I have went through two sets of ear tubes! take a deep breath and relax!!! at that age vomiting and bad diapers can be from so many things...teething it top one for those two problems! as for the ear infection. I don't see why you couldnt take him outside...I wouldn't if it was raining or very windy...I mean let the baby be the judge of how he feels...take him outside if you normally do, I promise you if his ear hurts him worse due to being outside he will let you know!! he will scream, cry or like u said tug on it....thats your sign he needs to go back in...if you are not sure about outside still, walk him over to a window or open a door...as far as the baths go, not a problem if you use a cup to rinse his hair...u know u don't have to even shampoo his hair for several days if you are that worried about it...just a tub bath minus the head, wipe his face down with a cloth...ya good to go. unless your doctor told you not to get water on his head or ears I would not worry about it.

Answer 8

Try tea tree oil, too. It is a natural antibiotic. I have used it for years. I have four children and four grandchildren, and I have found tea tree oil to work better and faster than antibiotics. Make sure it's warm, but not too warm, and just put a little drop or two in each ear. Once I found this, none of my children ever had to go to the doctor for another ear infection. Sounds like you're doing a real good job, sweetie.

Answer 9

There is a thin tube that connects between the ear and the throat called the Eustachian tube. In small children, this tube may accumulate liquids that may contain bacteria, (hence the doctor giving you antibiotics). I wish I could give you a picture, but that isn't possible on this media. (If you e-mail me at [e-mail] I could scan one and e-mail it to you). You need to massage the area from the back of the ear to the bottom of the ear, to the throat at about the top of the "adam's apple". This will help to get the blockage out of the tube. The tube connects to the inner ear, so putting olive oil, etc. in the outer ear may feel good, but won't clear the blockage.

Answer 10

he may have a pinched nerve in his neck, a normal doctor won't tell you this but take him to a chiropractor, when i was a baby i used to get earaches really bad and my folks finally took me to a chiroprator and after the first visit from what they say is that I had mellowed and after the second i wasn't crying anymore, I am 26 and i know work for a chiropractor and its amazing the problems people come in with that they are able to help with with no pain meds

along with this try a food allergy blood test

but first i diffently say try a chirporactor, if he has fallen, during delivery babies heads are pulled on and that can show up if not treated in problems like earaches, sinuses, allergies, moodiness, lack of sleep, emotional and behavioral problems,

before trying more meds try this


Also

if there is any vertabra out in his lower to mid back that could also be his runs, each nerve coming from the spinal cord controls something in the body and if the nerves are pinched that control his bathroom abilities getting him to a chiropractor might be able to help him unles its an allergic reation