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ear tubes and pain
My 3 year old has ear tubes. She has been having pain in her right ear today and last night. I looked in them with an otoscope and she has a lot of hard crystallized looking build up that wasn't there 3 days ago. I was able to clear some of it out with a q tip and she is still complaining that it hurts and holding it. Her tube is still in place but it has some fluid behind it. What should I do?
Take her to an ear specialist as soon as you can, professional help is always needed when it concerns ear blockages.
How long has she had the tubes? They don't last forever. What you are describing is typical of tubes "pushing" their way out. Again, you do not want to mess with it or put ANY kind of liquid into it since it is an opening to the inner part of the ear and can cause an infection. She needs to see the ENT doctor for an evaluation ASAP.
Is she running a fever (try to check with a tympanic thermometer and not an ear one). If so, make sure you tell this to the doctor's office so they make her a priority.
This may not be wax as I said. When a tube pushes it's way out, you can get a strange sensation and crusting to the area, but you have to keep the area dry.
Call your doctor immediately. It is painless to remove it or just a little pinch. I've had it done so I know how it feels.
Is she running a fever (try to check with a tympanic thermometer and not an ear one). If so, make sure you tell this to the doctor's office so they make her a priority.
This may not be wax as I said. When a tube pushes it's way out, you can get a strange sensation and crusting to the area, but you have to keep the area dry.
Call your doctor immediately. It is painless to remove it or just a little pinch. I've had it done so I know how it feels.
Do NOT mess with the child's ear and take her immediately to your doctor.
Do NOT poke any q tips into the ear, this will just push the rest of the wax deeper into the ear canal.
Your doctor will advise you whether you need to put any warmed oil into the ear to loosen up the build up of what may be hardened ear wax. The doctor will also tell you if the ear does need syringing. At the hospital ENT department they do not syringe ears, but have a special tool to get the blocked up wax out.
Do NOT poke any q tips into the ear, this will just push the rest of the wax deeper into the ear canal.
Your doctor will advise you whether you need to put any warmed oil into the ear to loosen up the build up of what may be hardened ear wax. The doctor will also tell you if the ear does need syringing. At the hospital ENT department they do not syringe ears, but have a special tool to get the blocked up wax out.
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