Ear Infection Odor

Updated on May 19, 2018
K.H. asks from Hope Mills, NC
7 answers

I am on the second day of antibiotics for an ear infection. I didn't know he had one until I went in for his 6 month old well check. He had no symptoms. Tonight after I gave him a bath the ear odor has gotten so bad that he is sleeping next to me about a foot and a half away and I can still smell his ears. Should I bring him back to the doctor since the odor is so bad or finish the 10 day cycle of antibiotics?

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So What Happened?

I had no intention of stopping the antibiotics but was concerned by the smell that literally came out of nowhere after being on antibiotics for 2 days. I am not familiar with ear infections as this is my 3rd child and thankfully this is my first one who has had an ear infection. I was just wondering in other mom's experiences if this had happened and what course of action had taken place. I have continued the antibiotics and the smell has gone away. Thank you to those who provided helpful and insightful advice. He seems to be doing better. He will have a follow up appointment next week.

More Answers

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M.R.

answers from Washington DC on

Do not stop antibiotics! Keep giving them exactly as scheduled while you also call the doctors office and tell the advice nurse(or triage nurse or whatever your doctors office calls it) about the smell. Ask if you should bring your son in to the doctor. But please never just stop antibiotics on your own; only stop them when the entire prescription is finished or the doctor tells you to stop. The smell likely isn't being caused by the antibiotics but by the infection itself.

4 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

Your pediatrician has a 24/7 phone line. Use it. That's what it's for - parents who are worried and kids who have issues on weekends and in the evenings. Don't use it at 3 a.m. unless there's an emergency, but do call at 10 a.m. or 3 p.m. on a weekend day if you need to. Absolutely keep up with the antibiotics until you get a callback from your pedi or the pedi on call. I don't know whether you should bring him in or not - but call and discuss it with the doctor.

4 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

ear infections stink.

you haven't given the antibiotics time to work yet. if he has no other symptoms, then going back to the doctor because you don't like the smell of the infection you know he has and are already treating for will be a waste of everyone's time.

i mean, call the hotline if you really think there's something more that needs to happen.

but this is NOT an either/or. you finish the antibiotics no matter what.

as a parent you need to chisel this into your brain. never forget it.

ALWAYS finish the course of antibiotics. failing to do so will set your child up for lifelong terrible problems with antibiotic resistance.

that's a whole lot worse than putting up with a bad odor for a few days.
khairete
S.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Portland on

You always finish the antibiotics. Just have to say that because that's the rule of thumb.

Infections can stink.

My best guess (having gone through this with our kids, and some of mine had tubes so very familiar) is that when the ear unplugs - and the gunk finally comes out - it unleashes some nasty stuff that was trapped in there.

If it's that green stuff that comes oozing out, it could even have pus in there. I mean, that could have been in there for some time. I'm guessing the Dr dislodged it by looking in his ear.

The only time ear infections smelled for us was when the gunk came out.

If you want, you could call their number and talk to nurse just so you feel better - but I've had infections that were trapped under bandages (stitches) and when uncovered were very nasty smelling. From what I remember, the smell goes very quickly once on antibiotics.

Good luck :) hope he's feeling better soon. He should.

3 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I'd finish the antibiotic and bring him back to the doctor after the medicine is finished.
An ear smell like that is certainly due to an infection - maybe even a fungus.
Keep working with the doctor.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

What more can the doctor do if he is already on the medication?

2 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Oh my gosh get off the computer and call the 24 hour nurse line. Ask them. And didn't they tell you to give him ALL the antibiotics?!
Please just call and talk to a real nurse.

1 mom found this helpful
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