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itchy ear canal and Qtips
MrsCB posted:
I read your itchy ear FAQ section -- thank you, it was very helpful.
My daughter is 3.5 years old and her itchy ear is driving her (and me) crazy. Her doctor's basic advice when it gets really bad is to put a little cortisone ointment into the ear canal (so she can sleep). Sometimes she gives us some cortisone drops with antibiotics (when she has an ear infection).
My problem is I have to use a Q-tip to get the ointment into the ear canal. I know I am not supposed to use the Q-tip all the way down, I know this is bad -- but she begs me so much -- and when it is late at night and she's been crying because her ears itch so much -- it is really hard not to do it.
Also when I put any kind of drops in her ears, she again screams and cries because they bug her so much. She begs me to "sop them out" with a Q-tip.
I am doing the cortisone ointment so often; I feel like I must be exacerbating the situation. Do you have any ideas as to how to get of this cycle? Occasional in desperation, I just give her some Tylenol on the theory that itch signals and pain signals travel on the same pathway, and it will make her less sensitive to the itch.
Her doctor has no other ideas for me and suggests either a dermatologist or an ENT -- how do I know which one to consult? Seems like either one would have a very different take on this situation.
I will ask either specialist if treatment for a fungal infection would be a good idea, but again, if I try to put any drops in her ear, she will scream like crazy until I sop them out again, which will just start me on this same vicious cycle again, I fear. So I am not hopeful that any good will come of it.
thanks for any help or ideas you can give!
My daughter is 3.5 years old and her itchy ear is driving her (and me) crazy. Her doctor's basic advice when it gets really bad is to put a little cortisone ointment into the ear canal (so she can sleep). Sometimes she gives us some cortisone drops with antibiotics (when she has an ear infection).
My problem is I have to use a Q-tip to get the ointment into the ear canal. I know I am not supposed to use the Q-tip all the way down, I know this is bad -- but she begs me so much -- and when it is late at night and she's been crying because her ears itch so much -- it is really hard not to do it.
Also when I put any kind of drops in her ears, she again screams and cries because they bug her so much. She begs me to "sop them out" with a Q-tip.
I am doing the cortisone ointment so often; I feel like I must be exacerbating the situation. Do you have any ideas as to how to get of this cycle? Occasional in desperation, I just give her some Tylenol on the theory that itch signals and pain signals travel on the same pathway, and it will make her less sensitive to the itch.
Her doctor has no other ideas for me and suggests either a dermatologist or an ENT -- how do I know which one to consult? Seems like either one would have a very different take on this situation.
I will ask either specialist if treatment for a fungal infection would be a good idea, but again, if I try to put any drops in her ear, she will scream like crazy until I sop them out again, which will just start me on this same vicious cycle again, I fear. So I am not hopeful that any good will come of it.
thanks for any help or ideas you can give!
3 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:itchy ear canal and QtipsI read your itchy ear FAQ section -- thank you, it was very helpful. <br><br>My daughter is 3.5 years old and her itchy ear is driving her (and me) crazy. Her doctor's basic advice when it gets really bad is to put a little cortisone ointment into the ear canal (so she can sleep). Sometimes she gives us some cortisone drops with antibiotics (when she has an ear infection). <br><br>My problem is I have to use a Q-tip to get the ointment into the ear canal. I know I am not supposed to use the Q-tip all the way down, I know this is bad -- but she begs me so much -- and when it is late at night and she's been crying because her ears itch so much -- it is really hard not to do it. <br><br>Also when I put any kind of drops in her ears, she again screams and cries because they bug her so much. She begs me to "sop them out" with a Q-tip. <br><br>I am doing the cortisone ointment so often; I feel like I must be exacerbating the situation. Do you have any ideas as to how to get of this cycle? Occasional in desperation, I just give her some Tylenol on the theory that itch signals and pain signals travel on the same pathway, and it will make her less sensitive to the itch. <br><br>Her doctor has no other ideas for me and suggests either a dermatologist or an ENT -- how do I know which one to consult? Seems like either one would have a very different take on this situation. <br><br>I will ask either specialist if treatment for a fungal infection would be a good idea, but again, if I try to put any drops in her ear, she will scream like crazy until I sop them out again, which will just start me on this same vicious cycle again, I fear. So I am not hopeful that any good will come of it. <br><br>thanks for any help or ideas you can give!
Rod_Moser_PA_PhD responded:
There is a prescription product called Derma-Smoothe Otic for this purpose, that is much more appropriate, assuming that she does not have yeast or fungus. If she does, then cortisone is not going to help. As a matter of fact, it "feeds" the fungus. Her doctor or a dermatologist can test her for fungus with a special culture, or they may elect to just try a course of antifungal therapy....just in case.
Around bedtime, it would be helpful to give her an antipruritic - a medication to control itching (regardless of the cause). Atarax syrup (by prescription) is commonly used, or OTC Children's Zyrtec.
Does she have eczema (atopic dermatitis)? Any dry skin issues anywhere else on the body?
You are correct about those Q-tips. Don't use them routinely, and please don't let her get ahold of them or start using improvised things, like pencils, etc.
Around bedtime, it would be helpful to give her an antipruritic - a medication to control itching (regardless of the cause). Atarax syrup (by prescription) is commonly used, or OTC Children's Zyrtec.
Does she have eczema (atopic dermatitis)? Any dry skin issues anywhere else on the body?
You are correct about those Q-tips. Don't use them routinely, and please don't let her get ahold of them or start using improvised things, like pencils, etc.
Report This| Share this:itchy ear canal and QtipsThere is a prescription product called Derma-Smoothe Otic for this purpose, that is much more appropriate, assuming that she does not have yeast or fungus. If she does, then cortisone is not going to help. As a matter of fact, it "feeds" the fungus. Her doctor or a dermatologist can test her for fungus with a special culture, or they may elect to just try a course of antifungal therapy....just in case. <br><br>Around bedtime, it would be helpful to give her an antipruritic - a medication to control itching (regardless of the cause). Atarax syrup (by prescription) is commonly used, or OTC Children's Zyrtec. <br><br>Does she have eczema (atopic dermatitis)? Any dry skin issues anywhere else on the body? <br><br>You are correct about those Q-tips. Don't use them routinely, and please don't let her get ahold of them or start using improvised things, like pencils, etc.
MrsCB responded:
Thanks! I will follow up those leads with her doctor.
I suspect she does have eczema but it hasn't been diagnosed. She has red patches behind the ears. (I suspect a link to chocolate although the correlation isn't 100% - some times she eats chocolate and doesn't get itchy ears, but about 75% of the time, it seems she does. I try to keep away from chocolate anyhow -- but am not always successful. If I knew for sure there was a correlation I would find it easier to avoid the chocolate.)
Assuming she does have eczema, would you suggest visiting a ENT or a dermatologist for our next step? Or would it make no difference? Thank you!
I suspect she does have eczema but it hasn't been diagnosed. She has red patches behind the ears. (I suspect a link to chocolate although the correlation isn't 100% - some times she eats chocolate and doesn't get itchy ears, but about 75% of the time, it seems she does. I try to keep away from chocolate anyhow -- but am not always successful. If I knew for sure there was a correlation I would find it easier to avoid the chocolate.)
Assuming she does have eczema, would you suggest visiting a ENT or a dermatologist for our next step? Or would it make no difference? Thank you!
Report This| Share this:itchy ear canal and QtipsThanks! I will follow up those leads with her doctor. <br><br>I suspect she does have eczema but it hasn't been diagnosed. She has red patches behind the ears. (I suspect a link to chocolate although the correlation isn't 100% - some times she eats chocolate and doesn't get itchy ears, but about 75% of the time, it seems she does. I try to keep away from chocolate anyhow -- but am not always successful. If I knew for sure there was a correlation I would find it easier to avoid the chocolate.) <br><br>Assuming she does have eczema, would you suggest visiting a ENT or a dermatologist for our next step? Or would it make no difference? Thank you!
Rod_Moser_PA_PhD responded:
I thought it was probably eczema....
Probably a dermatologist, if the pediatrician is not able to effectively treat it.
Probably a dermatologist, if the pediatrician is not able to effectively treat it.
Report This| Share this:itchy ear canal and QtipsI thought it was probably eczema.... <br><br>Probably a dermatologist, if the pediatrician is not able to effectively treat it.
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