Smelly ear

SeasideBride06

We noticed yesterday that DD's ear smells bad. She has a history of ear infections, but I have never noticed a smell before.  She got tubes in January 2010, and at her last appointment they were still in. She is acting fine, and has no other symptoms of anything going on.

I am going to take her to the pedi after work today, but just wondering if anyone else has experienced this.  Was it an infection?

peanut2b

As you probably know, having tubes doesn't mean your LO won't get ear infections...it just means that the blockage is able to drain rather than clogging up to the point of feeling painful.  My DS is on his secondd set of tubes and he still gets constant ear infections...they just drain...alot.  So I have noticed that his ear is very smelly.

I took him to our Pedi and then to his ENT.  They said his tubes were blocked and that we needed to put in a few drops of hydrogen peroxide for a few days until the tube is unblocked.  how did we know it was not blocked?...When the drops stop hurting.  After they were unblocked, it was as if the floodgates opened and he must have drained for 2 days...and it was GROSS! 

I would honestly call your ENT first.  This is more than likely a question they have heard. 

SeasideBride06

Thanks! I do know that she can still have an infection with the tubes, but I thought I would see it draining if she did.  I didn't think about a possible blockage.

momtoRaegan041008

Have you checked behind her ear in the crease?  I always find that when my daughter's ear is a little smelly, she has build-up back there.  Kind of nasty, but everyone has it.  Other than that, I would say maybe it's an ear infection. 

SeasideBride06

Thanks for the responses!  The smell was coming from inside the ear...I clean inside and behind her ears every night in the bath, so I knew something had to be going on.  Went to the pedi yesterday afternoon, and she does have a lot of drainage coming through the tube (yay, they are still in!)  He gave us a prescription for drops that we started last night.