Ear Infections : Is it okay to clean the ear out
By SomeCowgirl
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
United States
May 7, 2008 6:34pm CST
I was wondering if anyone knew if it was okay to clean out your ear while you have an ear infection. My Fiance currently has an ear infection, and the antibiotics and ear drops have produced a lot of ear puss... is it okay for me to clean his ear out, or do you think it will only make it worse? It builds up very quickly and he doesn't complain that it hurts when I do it.
Is it okay to though?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@heidibur (310)
• United States
8 May 08
I dont know about when you have an active ear infection but they sell these ear cones and it looks like a cone shaped candle and you put the pointed end in your ear and lit the other end on fire
( I know sonunds scary ) but my son used to have ear problems all the time and they work like a charm the fire draws out all the stuff in the ear into the cone.
2 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
8 May 08
I have heard of that (once or twice) but would not even think about doing it. I wouldn't do it to him, and I know he'd look at me as if I had lost my mind if I was to even suggest it. I am sure that those brave enough to try it, get results... but me? Never.
Thanks for the suggestion though...
1 person likes this
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
7 May 08
If you use water to clean it out it will definitely get worse. A Q-tip will push the gunk back into the ear, so I wouldn't recommend that either. If you can see the gunk (outer ear) then maybe swiping it away with a wash cloth would be OK- but I would be careful not to push it back or get soap ,or water in the ear.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
7 May 08
Thank you. I do use a qtip and water. I usually just swipe in a downward manner and never go in his ear... just on the outside of it where I can seek the puss. He does say that it helps, but he did have it hurting really bad today, so I don't want to do it if it hurts more.
