Weird middle-of-the-night earache in my 5-year-old

[kir]

Hi - My daughter was not sick at all today, and then a few hours after going to bed, around midnight, she woke up WAILING. I thought it was a nightmare, got her back to sleep -- but then after 30 mins of this she told me her ear and throat hurt. I tried calming her (we've not had ear infections here much, so i didn't know what to do), and after 45 minutes of frantic crying i called her doctor. The doctor said give tylenol/motrin, put a heating pad, and elevate her head. In the 30 seconds i was talking to the doctor my daughter fell asleep, and now she's been asleep for 4 hours!

I'm just trying to figure out whether i need to get her to the doctor tomorrow. It's freezing cold here, and our car is snowed in right now!  I will of course get her to the doctor if i need to, but has anyone seen acute pain like this just go away? If it's not hurting in the morning, should i just send her to school? The way she's sleeping now, i'm pretty sure she's not in pain.

Thanks for any insights!!

K

[sbgrace]

I'm probably too late to help but generally I give ear infections 48 or so hours to improve on their own before looking to a doctor. She'll probably be good in a day or so.