Ears

If your child has tubes placed in their ears, please follow this protocol. Let the ear drain for 24 hours. After 24 hours if the ear is still draining, you will need to start and antibiotic ear drop. If you do not have any at home, call the office during business hours for a prescription. Use the antibiotic drops for 3 days. If there is no improvement, make an appointment at the office for the child to be seen. If the child improves with the drops, continue the drops for 7 days.

If your child does not have tubes and is complaining of ear pain, the child may have an ear infection, swimmers ear, or a normal ear. The only way to be sure of the diagnosis is to examine the ear. An earache is not an emergency, although the child may be quite uncomfortable, and can wait to be seen when the office opens without added risk of complications. Most children can be made comfortable for several hours with pain relief at home if the ear pain occurs after hours. Please see the Tylenol and Motrin dosing section for the appropriate dose for your child.