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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Painful Ear Infection. Hearing Impacted With Puss. Can I Put Cotton Ball In Outer Ear?

my son just started antibiotics for a ear infection a day and a half ago, this is a re-treatment. The original infection we thought had cleared up, only to be going through the same again, but more painful. This morning my son woke up with a wet ear.. There is a lot of pus coming from the ear canal to outside. His hearing was impacted yesterday and is talking loud, his entire ear hurts, and behind it. I ve cleaned it up, but can I put a cotton ball in the outer ear? and should I take him back to the doctor ?
Mon, 14 Oct 2013
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ENT Specialist,  's  Response
There can be two reasons of pus discharge in your case. Chronic suppurative otitis media, where thre is a hole in ear drum and discharge occurs. there can be pain along with but not always. The other can be discharge coming because of infection in the external auditory canal which will be painful. Both need ear toileting and antibiotics with analgesics and CSOM will need oral decongestants also. In both you can put antibiotic ear drops and antifungal drops may be needed along with in EAC infection. Please go to an ENT, make a diagnosis. If CSOM, and perforation is large, will need surgical repair for that, if very small may heal on its own. In EAC infection cleaning and keeping the ear dry should suffice. Regards
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Painful Ear Infection. Hearing Impacted With Puss. Can I Put Cotton Ball In Outer Ear?

There can be two reasons of pus discharge in your case. Chronic suppurative otitis media, where thre is a hole in ear drum and discharge occurs. there can be pain along with but not always. The other can be discharge coming because of infection in the external auditory canal which will be painful. Both need ear toileting and antibiotics with analgesics and CSOM will need oral decongestants also. In both you can put antibiotic ear drops and antifungal drops may be needed along with in EAC infection. Please go to an ENT, make a diagnosis. If CSOM, and perforation is large, will need surgical repair for that, if very small may heal on its own. In EAC infection cleaning and keeping the ear dry should suffice. Regards