Parents need more information on ear infections

A Leeds mum is urging parents to become better informed about children’s ear infections following her less than positive experiences when trying to get a diagnosis and cure for her daughter, Eliza.

Eliza, now 2 ½ years old, had her first experience of a middle ear infection on her 1st birthday in April 2007. Eliza had a cold and during her birthday party seemed unsettled as all the guests gathered for a group photo.  Rather than having fun, Eliza ended up being given Calpol and put to bed. Later that day, when Eliza woke up, her parents discovered that her ears were discharging fluid. They suspected her eardrums had burst and so took her to an out of hours doctor. With the perforations confirmed, antibiotics were prescribed and the doctor advised Eliza’s mum, Sarah, to keep the outer part of the ears clean.

After this initial ear infection, Sarah recalls how it marked the beginning of a very difficult year for Eliza and the family; in May 2007, when Eliza’s parents had taken her swimming, she developed a recurrent ear infection, particularly affecting one ear.

Sarah says: “From this point on, Eliza seemed to have a smelly discharge from her ear on a weekly basis. We had numerous trips to the doctor’s and this resulted in eight courses of antibiotics in a nine month period! Several GPs said that middle ear infections are quite normal and there was no need to refer to a specialist. However, I was concerned as, although my older daughter also experienced ear infections when she was younger, they were never as bad as Eliza’s.’

The severe pain Eliza experienced with the infections would cause her to hold her head and rock back and forth. Sarah could sense her daughter’s frustration at not being able to verbalise her pain, which sometimes resulted in tantrums. Although unpleasant, Sarah could tell that each time Eliza’s ear began to discharge again, the pain would improve and Eliza’s hearing would also seem better.

After nine months with no sign of an end to the symptoms, and with the pain of the infections affecting her sleep, Eliza was eventually referred to a specialist. At the appointment which took place in February 2008 it was revealed from swab tests on her ear that a virulent infection had damaged the eardrum in the worse affected ear, creating a large hole.

The specialist said that it was likely bacteria had been picked up at the swimming pool when water from the pool had got into the middle ear which may not have fully healed from the perforation. This infection was resistant to the antibiotics that had been given, and as such the eardrum never had the chance to repair itself.

When the specialist prescribed antibiotic ear drops, Sarah says that within a week the infection had cleared up. The perforation has now completely healed in Eliza’s better ear, whilst in the other it may be two years before it is fully healed. Currently, Eliza is thought to have a little hearing loss, whereby she may not always hear someone speak to her if they are behind her, or if they are talking against a background of sound. This is likely to improve as the eardrum heals, and Eliza is now much better generally and making good progress at nursery school.

Despite this, Sarah feels that ear infections are not always taken seriously enough and can be very damaging. She thinks it is important for parents to have more information about ear infections and to be aware of the importance of keeping water out of the ear, following perforation until it is fully repaired. 

Parents worried about children’s ear infections and not sure where to turn can get up-to-date advice and guidance from Deafness Research UK's new leaflet Ear infections and glue ear in children.