Ear Infection/Ear Drainage

DH has taken Aurielle to the Nite Lite Pediatrics twice in the past two weeks for what we thought was an ear infection. A month ago, I took her to her normal doctor because she kept telling me her ears were bothering her. Turns out, she has a double ear infection and was prescribed antibiotics. It seemed to clear up and then a few days later she was exhibiting the same symptoms and complaining about her ears. So DH took her to Nite Lite which is an alternative to the ER since the ER can take many, many hours to see a doctor. He took her for the first time two weeks ago and the doctor there said she had some major drainage in both ears, but it would pass in about a week. This past week she's been having the SAME problems and DH took her back to Nite Lite again last night and the same doctor was there. She told him the same thing - she's got a lot of drainage, but didn't see an infection. I'm getting frustrating. There is obviously something wrong with my daughter who keeps telling me how much pain she is in. She is literally digging in her ears. All the research I have found online states that ear drainage is a sign of an ear infection. Wondering if this doctor she saw recently just doesn't want to give her antibiotics or what. It's really frustrating. Anyone else experience this? TIA

 

In my experience, drainage is from a ruptured ear drum and yeah, the ear will clean up but an infection caused it. I would take her back to your pediatrician. Ear infections dont always clear up the first time.

 

I also suggest taking her back to her regular pediatrician. I have an enormous amount of experience with ear infections with my girls (unfortunately) and it sounds like she has them and needs more meds! Good luck!!!

 

I contacted the on-call doctor. They already have a follow up appointment on Tuesday, so we are going to talk to their normal doctor then. It sounds like she has an ear infection to me just based off her behavior, but I'm no doctor. The on-call doctor did say to get a second opinion at a different clinic tomorrow, so we might do that. The doctor last night said that she was allowed to have the Little Noses decongestant spray since she's been stuffed up for over a week. This ear infection thing is really new to us. I appreciate the advice ladies.

 

The doctor may have been saying she has fluid behind her ear drums. This is called "otitis media with effusion" if you want to look it up. It can be really uncomfortable and give you that ear pressure/my ears need to pop feeling but its not an infection. The difference is that the fluid looks like pus in an ear infection and it is clear in OME. OME is especially common after an ear infection bc it can take 6-8 weeks for the fluid to drain after the infection clears. It often helps to use benedryl to help dry up the fluid (and can't hurt if it is an ear infection). Feel free to PM me if you have questions.