6 year old complaining of ear pain

[The Nappy Lady]

Hi,

Wondering whether I should take my daughter to the docs - she has mentined ear pain a couple of times in the past week, but has no other sympoms, and is generally full of bounce and seems her usual self. Also, it is sometimes mentioned alongside the idea of a day off school (going to childminder that she adores with younger sister instead), so I'm not discounting the idea that it may all be a white lie.....

Do ear infections always come with temperatures, etc? She's never had anything like this before and I have no experience to draw upon.

Thanks, Molly

[Helen GV]

hard one, but if you're not sure then it can't hurt to go to the GP, and if it is a ploy to get a day off school/spend the day at the childminders then at least she will have been made to go through the rigmarole of doctor etc so not all fun and games..? and peace of mind for you of course!

[ladyruskin]

This probably won't help with your question but as a long-term sufferer of ear problems throughout my childhood, I found complaining of an earache worked wonders for a day off school (no outward symptoms in a mild infection). It was especially effective in my teenage years when my mother was working part-time and couldn't take me to the doctors on certain mornings. That said, there were a couple of occasions when, after feigning an earache, I was taken to the doctors to find I that I really had an infection.

I would say take her to the doctors just be on the safe side.

[charlottep]

My son recently started complaining about ear ache at night only, i thought it was more like a bit of separation anxiety as he had no other symptoms and was cheerful during the day. I took him to the doctors anyway just to be sure. She said his ear was as red as cherry and gave him antibiotics, she was surprised he hadn't been complaining more. Probably worth ruling it out...

[Fuschia]

I think you can have an ear infection without a temp

[Ruth_Baldock]

I had ear aches a LOT as a kid, and it was due to dental problems (much later on, when I was 20, it was linked to molars and wisdom teeth which were all taken out. Nice). So if it isn't an ear infection/porky to get out of school, it MIGHT be worth a trip to the dentists as well?

[buggie]

Can have ear infection without temperature, but normally +++ painful - not easily distracted from. Possibly worth seeing GP to confirm there isn't anything visible signs in the ear of infection/cause for discomfort.

[The Nappy Lady]

Thanks....will get her checked, flying next month so don't want any ear dramas!

[Saffron]

If GP can't see an infection, but your LO still complains of ear pain, it could be caused by an overly dry ear. This used to happen to me sometimes. It helps to put a *small* drop of olive oil (or similar neutral oil) in the ear.

[linzkg]

Molly, do a search on Vieamin E oil for ear infections!

Its a simple natural remedy and apparently the results are amazing - I'm almost excited to try it out as I suffered terribly as a youngster from ear infections and was given all the medicated antibiotics - not really what we want to be giving our youngsters hey ..

(randomly on the forum after someone private messaged me ..)