Sharing an image of what looked like an incision behind her baby son’s ear, Amber Ella wrote:
Everyone please share this post, because most people are unaware of this danger.
My son had a basic ear infection, so we went to see our family doctor and got antibiotics.
Later that night, the skin behind the ear got a little red and swollen. I called the doctor and he reassured me that sometimes this can happen, but to just let the meds have time to work and to call him in a couple days.
*I just kept thinking: “Oh my, he just doesn’t look right.” *
So I took him to the hospital, and within one hour he was given a CTT scan; they told me he had mastioditis, an infection that grows into the back of the ear bone, which can then go deeper into the head.
If not caught and cared for in time, it can cause:
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Meningitis
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Complete loss of hearing
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Brain abscess
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And, in some cases, death.
Everyone plzzzzz share this postMost ppl are unaware of this dangerHe had a basic ear infectionWent and seen family... > >
Posted by [Amber Ella](#) on [Monday, 23 March 2015](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155412005580232&set=a.10151763582225232.863587.728930231&type=3)
The mother finished with a list if symptoms that parents need to watch out for - and a warning.
It read:
When your kids say that their ear hurts, always look for the signs:
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Swelling behind the ear
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Redness
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Ear sticking out
If I had waited, my life could have been changed forever - but thankfully I went with my instincts and took him to the hospital.
They had to cut his eardrums, drain fluid, and put tubes in his ears.
The cut you can see behind his ear in the photo is where they had to drill in to release fluid and infection.
It was a very painful operation, but thank god for a mother’s instinct.
The post was shared an incredible 1,113,788 times on Facebook, receiving 5,258 comments from shocked parents thanking Amber for her warning.
She added later: “Thank you to everyone who shared this or is sharing this; my son Markus is doing great.”
Please call your GP if you or your child:
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Has any symptoms of mastoiditis
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Has an ear infection that doesn't clear up with treatment or is followed by new symptoms
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Has been diagnosed with mastoiditis and treatment hasn't cleared it up
It is a serious infection and should be treated quickly, either with antibiotics or with surgery.
However, according to the NHS, treatment isn't always easy and the infection may come back.
They explain: “If the mastoid bone is severely infected and isn't removed, it can cause hearing loss and life-threatening health complications such as a blood clot, meningitis, or a brain abscess.”
Were you shocked by this mother’s warning? Did you know that ear infections could prove so deadly?
Let us know via Facebook or Twitter (@CloserOnline) now.