Ear infection...?

Question

Has anyone seen the news lately regarding children with ear infections... that a majority of ear infections are wrongly treated with anti biotics (doctors are too quick to prescribe them) and that they should be given time to heal on their own?

I ask because my 22 month old daughter has a double ear infection. Shes showing now signs of it and i was shocked she was diagnosed with it yesterday. She is a tough child to get meds into and shes on anti-biotics twice a day for the next 10 days.

What are your thoughts or experiences with this?

Answer 1

I haven't seen the new news about this...but I do have 2 small children that battled frequent ear infections when they were younger. I do believe that doctors give out antibiotics way too fast...however, those were the only medicines that help the ear infection go away. They are very painful and could lead to serious problems if not treated.

If you feel that antibiotics are not the best way to go, then I would urge you to talk to your daughter's pediatrician about what alternatives there are. Ear infections can go from mild to extreme very fast, so I think you should take some sort of action instead of not giving her the medicine. Good luck!

Answer 2

My son at the age of 2 had 5 ear infections within about a 3 month span. We know for a fact that everytime he got an infection and was put on antibiotics the ear infection went away and was completely cleared up. He actually had 5 separate infections, not just one long infection that never completely cleared up. Our pediatrician ended up putting him on a low dose of amoxicillin for 3 months to keep him from getting anymore. It worked, he's five and hasn't had one since.

I have heard now that they want the parents and kids just to let the ear infection play out and clear up without antibiotics. I don't know if that really works or not. I can't imagine going thru those 3 months without antibiotics. My son would scream & cry with pain from his infections and then 24 hours after the meds started he would be fine. I have to believe they helped him.

My advice is to talk with your pediatrician and see what he/she recommends. Find out how long the infection should last w/o the help of antibiotics. Can you let your little one hurt for that long? If she's not in pain then maybe try it.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

If the doc prescribes it, use it. They wouldn't prescribe if they didn't think it was bacterial infection. My doc only prescribes stuff if it is a certain type of ear infection. So, if she does prescribe it, my son takes it. I trust that if he didnt' need it she wouldn't give it. When she thinks it is viral, she won't give him anything. Docs are tough to get to prescribe antibiotics these days, so I am sure they only would if your child really did need it.

My son has an ear infection now, and I use a dropper/squirter thingy that comes with baby Motrin instead of the makeshift spoon they give me with the prescription. When he is eating I squirt about 1 mL at a time in his mouth in the back. The total dose for him is 4 mL, so over the course of a meal I do it 4x. It sounds nutty but if he spils a lot on his bib I will try to suck it back up and give it to him again!!

Answer 4

Two out of my three children have had tubes done in there ears because of reaccuring ear infection that anti biotics did not clear up. My neighbors son had many ear infections that dr didn't give antibiotic for and he ended with partical hearing loss in one ear. I guess sometime you have to weigh the risks.

Answer 5

My son had over 10 ear infections in his first 10 months of life. Because of them, he ended up with a lot of fluid in his ears and needed tubes at 10.5 month. They decided he probably hadn't heard much up until that time. He became very delayed.

Have them check to make sure there's no fluid build up. Also, ear infections are very painful. I recommend doing what your doctor suggests or going to an ENT (ears, nose, & throat) doctor.

Answer 6

As with everything these days, we are quick to medicate with pharmaceuticals and drugs...especially to those issues pertaining to the elderly and the very young. Often times, as you suggested, this decision is made to quickly and "knee-jerk". It would be improper to give out specific medical advice in regards to your child, as it would be any medical professional...but from my experience, it is important to educate yourself as to how the body can heal naturally and without drugs/intervention...and to couple this with the advice of a sound and reasoned medical professional. A good doctor will work with you and explain when things are truly necessary. Maybe a second opinion or another pediatrician is what you really need. Pediatricians often have "interview" times so that you can find one that will go along or assist you with your lifestyle and beliefs.

Answer 7

If they need it - they need it= sometimes there is a build up of fluid in the ear- and it gets infected= and they need antibiotics= so if the md saw inf, or reddness he prescribeds well- make sure she gets plenty of water =it will help thin secretions and help ear drain and keep away from allergens-does she have a stuffy or runny nose too?? A saline nose spray may help and cool mist humidifier- take care D-

Answer 8

I'm finding my kids doc are getting too strict with issuing antobiotics. They keep saying its a virus no need for it even though the doc sees reddness around their throat and ears. My boys have been constantly sick lately with coughs and colds {its springtime here} and I think a dose of antibiotics would do them good. But I listenend to the doc.

As for your child if she has a fever and her ears are very red inside then you should give her the antibiotics,you dont want her to get worse. Good luck.

Answer 9

my daughter has had an ear inffection twice, she got prescribed w/antibiotics and they worked great, she healed and never got them till this day, if it hurts let her take the meds, plus it's only twice a day, so it's not much, give her her meds and when the treatment is over give her yoghurt so her stomach can recover.

Answer 10

i have had some horrendous ear infections in my adult life and they are not only very painful, they take some time to resolve. if i were you, i would not put off treatment, because there is nothing worse then if your ear canal swells. it is excrutiating. if she is difficult, try mixing it in her food or drink. if you have it in liquid form, its much easier. if its pill, try giving it to her in peanut butter or something thick like that so she won't notice it. good luck!!