Is this your symptom?
- Minor infection of pierced ear
- Symptoms are pain, redness, crusting and swelling at the earring site
Causes of Infections in Newly Pierced Ear
- Piercing the ears with tools or earring posts that aren't clean (sterile)
- Not cleaning the earlobes daily
- Taking the earring out before the channel is healed (6 weeks)
- Touching earrings with dirty hands
- Earring backs that are too tight against the earlobe.
- Posts that have nickel in them can also cause an itchy, allergic reaction
Causes of Infections Later After the Pierced Ear has Healed
- Not cleaning the earrings and posts daily
- Touching earrings with dirty hands
- Earring backs that are too tight against the earlobe.
- Not taking the earrings out at night
- Anything that causes a scratch or tear in the ear channel. Examples are a heavy earring or a rough area on the post. Reason: any break in the skin can become infected.
- Putting the post in at the wrong angle also can scratch the channel. Use a mirror until putting the earring in becomes routine.
- Posts that have nickel in them can also cause an itchy, allergic reaction
When to Call for Ear Piercing Symptoms
Go to ER Now
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
|
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
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Self Care at Home
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Go to ER Now
- Torn ear and bleeding cannot be stopped after 10 minutes of direct pressure
- Ear torn from an earring that was forcibly pulled out
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Piercing of UPPER ear is red and swollen
- Fever and ear looks infected
- Tear in ear and No past tetanus shots
- You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Part of earring (or backing) is stuck inside the earlobe
- Redness has spread beyond the earring site
- Tear in ear and it has been more than 5 years since your last tetanus shot
- You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Swollen lymph node (in front of or behind earlobe)
- Swelling, crusting or redness has not improved after 3 days of home treatment
- Itchy rash and you are wearing earrings that contain nickel
- Large thick scar at the earring site
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Mild redness or crusting at piercing site
- Questions about prevention of infections in pierced ears
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
