I have a 2 1/2 month old daughter. When she was about a month old we noticed a little crusty substance in her outer ear. The ear also had a weird smell, which was not really noticable unless you were actually puting your nose to the side of her head. Everything I could find online refering to foul-smell and discharge from the ear pointed to a ruptured eardrum. In consulting our pediatrician he assured us it was highly unlikley at that age, and that the crusty substance was probably just ear wax. BUT it wasn’t waxy. it was crusty like the stuff in the corner of your eye when you wake up. He said “ear wax” doesn’t have to be waxy, and that she didn’t show any other sign of having trouble with her ear. It’s been over a month and there is no further sign of discharge, but I noticed she still occasionally has a weird smell in that one ear. Should this be a concern? Or is that just how her earwax smells?
In the morning, call the pediatrician. Ask for an appointment anyway, even if they suggest you may be crazy. This may or may not be anything, who knows. You could just have a naturally crusty kid. But only a real-life doctor can tell, and with a very little infant, it’s very important that a real-life MD checks these things out, even if you are being overly cautious.
If the kid seems in pain, is holding her head funny, has a temperature above 100.4 farnheit, has blood or pus oozing from ear canal, or anything is slightly hinky, take child to ER tonight.
Do not stick things in the ear.
I am here with Ms.Nic and she says that the ear wax should not have a smell and to have it checked. If the pediatrician you are using has not already examined the ear then perhaps a second opinion from another or a Ear, Nose and Throat. If need be, go to the ER as the attending physician will be able to make an informed determination.
I’m sure your pediatrician is competent but there should be no weird smells coming from the infant (other than the usual ones). They should smell like a baby.
Please let us know what you find out.
I don’t want to scare you… but it sound like an ear infection, which can be VERY dangerous at such a young age. My wife suffered from ear infections as an infant and she still has hearing problems, 30 years later. Go see a doctor.
My son had trouble with ear infections as a child, and our pediatrician said she would NEVER try to diagnose a child under a year old over the phone. Your pediatrician would be wise to adopt this strategy.