My daughter was complaining that her ears hurt at night for 3 nights a few nights ago. More details below:?

Question

She was kind of wimpering, not horrible, but she said that they hurt. She also wimpers and cries sometimes when we put her in bed, since she thinks she's not ready for sleep. She's four years old. Now, she says they don't hurt, but she asks us several times a day "What did you say?" when we talk to her, even when in the same room. But, she can hear us just fine other times.

What do think the chances are that she has an ear infection or swimmers ear? Should I call the doc, or you think she's going through some "What did you say?" phase.

Thanks!

Answer 1

It is typical for ear infections to hurt more at night because the fluid causes more pressure on the eardrum when lying down. Alot of kids tend to not notice the symptoms in the day as they are more active, distracted,etc. I would take her to the doctor and let him take a look just to see if there may be some fluid behind the ear. Good luck !

Answer 2

Take her to the doctor.  She may have an ear infection.  My daughter gets them all the time and they tend to hurt more around bed time.  If it is a true infection, she will need antibiotics.  If it is swimmers ear, she will need ear drops, no swimming for a week  and earplugs for future swimming.  You can also make ear drops (to prevent swimmers ear, NOT to cure it) with 1/2 rubbing alcohol and 1/2 hydro peroxide..2 drops each ear after swimming.  OH....for earplugs, you can buy them at any drug store or use silly putty.  Just don't use the glitter kind.

Answer 3

Take her to the doctor. The doctors will know.

Answer 4

I'm a dad myself and if my kids tell me something is wrong I take it very seriously . I would take her to the Doctor ASAP for peace of mind.

Answer 5

take her to the doctor, she has fluid/infection in her ears, sometimes a child can have no other symptoms than what you are talking about, and she may very well have already burst her eardrum, did any bloody fluid come out on her pillowcase?  Get her to the doctor, please

Answer 6

Most ear infections will clear up on thier own and antibiotics are often over prescribed.  Chances are that she had an infection that is starting to clear up.  Once the infection is on the way out the fluid often remains for quite some time, often weeks.  You could either wait it out and see how it goes or take her to the doctor.  Since she hasn't been through many ear infections before it may give you peace of mind just to know.   As for the  "What did you say?"- Welcome to the next few years!!! :)   Good luck!!!

Answer 7

The chances are good that she has swimmer's ear.  Treating swimmers ear with a few drops of a solution that is 3 parts rubbing alcohol and 1 part vinegar will do no harm, this is what you use to treat swimmer's ear.  To put drops in a kid lay them on the side, you must pull the ear up and back to straighten out the ear canal.  Have the child stay laying down for 5 minutes.   The only precaution is if she has a bloody discharge from the ear, then don't put anything in it.  This is a rupture of the ear drum (tympanic membrane) and is fairly common, but innocuous.  I have had it twice.  It heals on its own, you take antibiotics.  Probably its swimmer's ear.  Try it for a few days before going into the docs office.  Go in though if it gets worse, you see drainage, or she runs a fever.

If you posted this in the swimming section you would have about every answer telling you this.  There are always a couple of questions about swimmers ear in that section.  The solution can be like the other responder said with the hydrogen peroxide, and this will dry up anything in the outer ear, so yes it will cure swimmer's ear.  Silly putty is old school, I did when I was a kid.  I do not recommend putting in any earplug.  If there is a middle ear infection this pressure could rupture the ear drum.  Also anything that molds to the ear should not be used in a young child it can be pushed too far in.  No swimming till its clear is good advice.  For older kids maybe 6-8 the silicone ear plug of choice is Mack's.

http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/rem...

This link clearly says that this remedy is used to treat Swimmer's ear, KMS is wrong, and that it works for both bacterial and fungal infections

Answer 8

Make an appointment with the doctor asap.  She could have swimmers ear, an ear infection, or something else.  Her ears may hurt more at night because of the tubes that run from the nose to the ear and when laying down those tubes are in a horizontal position not allowing the fluid to drain properly.  Get her checked out so it doesn't turn into a more serious problem.

Answer 9

clean the wax out of her ears

Answer 10

I would take her to the doctor, since she had said they did hurt.  Just in case, because if it is an infection, it will only get worse.