What happens if you get an ear infection with tubes?

If your child has ear tubes and gets an infection, you will see drainage from the ear. The drainage may look yellow, milky, or even bloody. Your child may not have pain and fever like they did before having ear tubes.

Is bleeding normal after ear tubes?

Mild blood tinged discharge may occur for up to 3 days after surgery. For heavy bright red bleeding call our office. You should contact the office, during regular business hours, if you notice drainage that smells and is crusting in and/or around the ear canal, the patient will need an appointment for exam.

Why does my child keep getting ear infections after tubes?

Kids (especially in the first 2 to 4 years of life) get ear infections more than adults do for several reasons: Their shorter, more horizontal eustachian tubes let bacteria and viruses find their way into the middle ear more easily. The tubes are also narrower, so more likely to get blocked.

What happens if water gets in your ears with tubes?

If water does enter the ears, do not panic. In most instances, nothing bad will happen. If any drainage is observed, please contact your pediatrician to initiate treatment with antibiotic ear drops. The drops will address the infection and will mechanically keep the tube from getting plugged by the dried pus.

Can you still get ear infections after tubes?

Even with ear tubes, your child may still get an occasional ear infection. Usually, an ear tube stays in the eardrum for four to 18 months and then falls out on its own. Sometimes, a tube doesn’t fall out and needs to be surgically removed.

Can a child get an ear infection after tubes?

Children often feel well even when there is a problem with the tube. Once the tubes fall out, your child should return for a final re-check after 6-12 months so that your doctor can check the ears and be sure that fluid has not built up again. Your child may still get an ear infection (otitis media) with ear tubes.

Can ear tubes cause infection?

Infection—Ear infections can still occur with a tube in place and cause ear discharge or drainage. However, these infections are usually infrequent, do not cause prolonged hearing loss (because the infection drains out), and may go away on their own or be treated effectively with antibiotic ear drops.

How long do outer ear infections last?

Acute outer ear infections come on suddenly and usually go away within three weeks. They can come back (recur) after they’ve cleared up. Chronic outer ear infections cause ongoing symptoms that last for at least three months or more. This may lead to some hearing loss.

What happens if you put peroxide in your ear with tubes?

You can scratch the delicate skin of the ear canal. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or drying drops if you or your child has ear tubes or if you have a ruptured eardrum.

Do tubes in ears prevent ear infections?

Ear tubes won’t prevent all ear infections, but they can make them milder and happen less often. In some cases, the tubes might need to be put in again. In most cases, surgery to remove an ear tube isn’t necessary.

Can a ear infection cause bleeding from the ear?

In addition, bleeding from the ear may occur with an ear infection in the middle ear while the ear tubes are in place. Blood and fluid normally build up behind the eardrum during a middle ear infection. Part of the purpose of ear tubes is to relieve pressure from fluid buildup and allow drainage, so bloody discharge is possible.

Why do I get blood in my ears after ear tube surgery?

A common concern parents have is around blood or other drainage coming from their child’s ears in the days following ear tube surgery. You may worry that there’s a problem with the tubes. But the drainage is actually a sign that the tubes are doing their job.

What should I do if I have bleeding in my ear?

Treatments vary depending on the cause of the bleeding: Ear infections: Your doctor will prescribe antibiotic ear drops or an oral antibiotic (taken by mouth). If you or your child have recurring ear infections, your doctor may recommend ear tubes.

When do ear tubes fall out after surgery?

Drainage will likely occur whenever your child gets an upper respiratory or ear infection until the tubes fall out. This typically happens between eight and 14 months after surgery in most cases, he says.