L.B. asks from Lima, OH on February 13, 2009
Curious About Odor from Ear --- Ear Infection??
I've noticed for the past 2 days, my 2 1/2 yr old daughter has an odor. It appears that it is coming from her ear. She was diagnosed with an ear infection about 2 weeks ago, and was put on an antibiotic which we have now finished. She has complained that her ear still hurts. But I've NEVER noticed any odor before.... or heard of such a thing!
Tonight, I gave her a good bath and washer her hair (as I do EVERY night) then used a Q-tip with a bit of peroxide on it when I cleaned her ears. Guess we'll see if that does anything??
Does anyone have any suggestions or comments !?!?
So What Happened?™
Hey Everyone -- thanks to everyone's advice .... I called the Doctor on-call today. After explaining the situation, and the fact that she spiked a 103 temp today, he suggested taking her to the ER. Good Thing! She has a full blown ear infection. Very red and puss. ( hence the odor. puss = odor)
New round of antibiotics!! Thanks for the advice everyone -- good thing I didn't hold off til Monday for regular Doctor hours !!!
Featured Answers
A.W. answers from Cleveland on February 14, 2009
HI, I would take her back to the doctor. My friend's son had the "smelly" ear problem and it was actually a yeast infection in his ear and it was the yeast that was causing the odor. Good luck.
P.R. answers from Indianapolis on February 14, 2009
Yes, it is from an ear infection. She should be on some type of medication and ear drops. I always knew when one of my children was starting to have an ear problem because of the odor.
More Answers
D.G. answers from Columbus on February 14, 2009
When I was a child I got a lot of ear infections and they always had a yeasty smell, it was from the infection draining out as I slept.It should go away once the infection is completely gone. However if her ear still is hurting she may need another round of antibiotics. When I was small we never went to the Dr. our parents treated us with a few home remedy's like warm smoke blown into the ear, hot water bottles to drawl it out and a few drops of our own urine in the ear canal.Sometimes a few drops of sweet oil.
S.C. answers from Kokomo on February 14, 2009
pain and odor from the ear is more than likely a bad infection that needs antibiotic. Take her back to the DR.
K.J. answers from Columbus on February 14, 2009
Just a thought...is it possible that there is something lodged in her ear. Perhaps she stuck something in there. The only reason I ask is that when I was a preschool teacher there was a child in my class who had a horrible odor. His mother was beside herself as to what to do. It was after a series of doctor's visits that they thought they found a growth in the child's nasal cavity. They did a surgery to remove it only to find that it wasn't a growth...it was a folded up little piece of cardboard that the child had pushed really far up into his nose. It was growing all kinds of things on it and once it was removed, so was the child's odor. Nonetheless, I'd definitely take her back to the doctor to check things out.
R.G. answers from Fort Wayne on February 14, 2009
More than likely it's an infection. My cousin is a hearing specialist & she let me know that when an ear is infected it does smell.
L.S. answers from Cincinnati on February 14, 2009
Call the doctor. The infection probably is not gone, the antibiotic may not have worked. Different medicines work on different bugs. I have a son who is 17 years old and has had ear infections his whole life, including two sets of tubes and major ear surgery last year. Don't let it go, especially since your daughter says it still hurts. I'll be thinking of you.
D.N. answers from Columbus on February 14, 2009
Hi L., My advice is take her back to the Dr. I have 6 grandchildren, and 3 of them has had to get tubes in their ears. She still has ear infection, does she get ear infections very often? If so you should speak to your Dr. about tubes. They make such a difference, My grand daughter just turned two in Jan. she's had tubes for at least 8 months, and when she starts getting ear infection, instead of the infection getting down in her ears, the tubes push it out. they really are a blessing. We have a great ears, throat, and nose specialist. Just let me know if you need one. He's awsome. Good luck.
W.L. answers from Columbus on February 14, 2009
did you check to make sure she didn't stick anything up her ear when my son was about that age he had a cold and hen his nose ran alot and he started smelling really bad. especially his nose. Well go reallt worried took him to ER and found out he'd stuck an earplug clear up his nose. it smelled because the earplug absorbed stuff, just a thought lol hope all goes well.
M.W. answers from Toledo on February 14, 2009
L.:
As an RN who has worked in a pediatrician office for many years, please get your daughter's ear re-checked.
Just because she was put on a certain antibiotic and you finished it,does not mean that the ear infection has cleared. Sometimes a particular antibiotic does not work on a certain infection and the ear infection actually gets worse. the bottom line is she needs to be rechecked.
Also consider putting her on probiotics as she has been on antibiotics. M.
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