does burst ear drum require antibiotics?

[Luke's mama]

my 2 yr old had a runny nose for a week that seemed to turn into an ear infection yesterday. Today I noticed his ear drum burst. I am taking him to the dr, but my dr. always says yes, he has an infection, and always gives antibiotics. Does he really need them if the drum burst?

[ellemenope]

I would argue that the whole point of taking antibiotics is to avoid a ruptered ear drum. I'm sorry this has happened to your son. It happened to us too, when DD was almost 1.

I wonder if your doc can take a culture of the pus.

FWIW DD did not get any ABX until after the rupture, and within a couple of hours she was feeling so much better.

[kcstar]

According to my internet reading over the last week or so, infection can cause the eardrum to burst and a burst eardrum can allow infections into the space behind the ears... so yes, ABX still recommended.