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Suggest Treatment For Swelling And Redness On Ear Post Piercing

Posted on Tue, 24 Mar 2015

Question: after we got our 4 month old boy ear pierced on Saturday. his right ear is swollen and is red. what can we apply to his ear. he keeps getting up every 45 mins and cries. please let me know how serious is this

Answered by Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Apply antibiotic ointment

Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr XXXXXXX

Swollen and red ear suggests that ear of the baby has got inflammed following piercing. There are chances of infection too.

I would suggest you to apply Mupirocin antibiotic ointment after proper hand wash. It will help in controlling the infection. Also give him analgesic syrup like ibugesic plus which contains ibuprofen and paracetamol(10 mg/kg/dose of ibuprofen 3 times a day).

Redness and swelling should subside in next 2-3 days.If redness and swelling persists consult your pediatrician as an oral antibiotic may be needed in that condition.

I will be glad to answer if you have any further query.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (46 hours later)

hi. the pain is subsided but I see a very red skin around his ear and its Turing dry.
please see attached picture . please advise urgently

Answered by Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It is healing

Detailed Answer:
Hello

The picture shows redness of ear lobule and crust. After piercing due to inflammation there may be discharge of fluid which get dried and form crusts.

As pain has subsided it suggests that inflammation is subsiding too. Also there is no increase in swelling or any pus discharge.

I would suggest you to clean the area after washing your hand properly with a cotton swab moistened with distilled water two to three times a day. Apply a thin layer of ointment after cleaning the area.Continue this for a week.

Most of the time infection occurs within a day or two of piercing,but sometimes it may get infected after a long interval.

Be careful for increase in pain,swelling or any pus discharge. If you notice any of these consult your doctor.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (21 minutes later)

thanks. my wife just told me that he never slept whole day and cried a lot . hr hasn't been feeding well either. can we give him gripe water and formula at this age. he needs to be held and played with always. he hasn't been crying since I came home at 9,45 pm. anything I can do. not sure if its related to ear piercings. if i touch and wash ear he doesn't cry.
he doesn't look hungry either.

Answered by Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
If irritability persists consult a physician

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Although in the picture it appears to be inflammed not infected I would suggest you to get him examined by a pediatrician if the irritability persists.

Continue giving the analgesic.Although gripe water is trusted by generation of mothers it is not recommended for an infant. Formula and bottle feeding is also not recommended as it may decrease breast milk production.

But if you feel, you can give formula milk temporarily with katori spoon. Maintenance of hygiene is of utmost importance while preparing the formula.

You can clean the ear gently with the help of moistened swab. It helps in removal of crust and prevention of infection.

Regards

Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj