How many ear infections untill a child should get tubs put in?

Question

My 9 mo. old daughter has had 4, 3 of them in her left ear, in the past 4 months. Should I ask about tubs? How many ear infections in what period of time should I be concerned about tubs?

Answer 1

I myself have had ear infections bad enough to have tubs put in my ears. I kept getting them back to back!! They put them in and my tonsil and adenoids taken out. Take your child to a specialist. An ear/nose specialist.. Please read my other answer to a similar question!

Their question:

Have you or your children had ear tubes?

And if so did you have a good experience or a bad experience with them?

My Answer:

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

This is a good question for me, I myself had ear problems for many years. In the 1980's and the docs then didn't want to do surgery on that young of a child. I couldn't hear very well. I could read lips very well. I started school and could read very well for my age. but couldn't hear the teacher when faced away from me.

They finally did the surgery and I could hear things that I hadn't heard in a long time. I also had my tonsels and adnoids removed. I was tired for a day or so afterwards and couldn't swim or take a shower without ear plugs (special fit). At the end they fall out and that is kinda cool to a 5 year old.

I'm glad I had them done. If I hadn't had them done in that time then I wouldn't be able to hear. They did hearing test before and after and they were surprised on how much I gained back. I have no hearing problems to this day!!



Asker's Rating:
The answer was well phrased and answered my question thoroughly.

Answer 2

Are the infections occuring back-to-back? If so she may just need to try a stronger antibotic. Both of my children had tubes. My first son had them at 9 months when he had 6 infections in 6 months. My second son has them when he was about a year old. He had them back-to-back for about 4 months. My doctor said it was time when he came down with Phenominia for the 2nd time in 3 months. Apparently when the infection sits in the ear too long it is possible for the infection to drain down and cause sinus infections, pink eye, and even increase risk the respritory illnesses. ASk your doctor. If he/she says not yet, I would ask for a second opinion from an ENT. Some insurance companies do not require a referral. Just do not let the doc keep your child on antibotics for a period long than 2 weeks is any month. This can cause your child not to responded to antibotics when really needed. Oh an ask about a antibotics shot..recefin i think it's called. That make kick the infection right out. Good luck and hang in there!

Answer 3

my daughter is going through the same thing and ironically we just got back from the EENT (ear doctor) a little while ago. the doctor told me that he only does tubes as a last resort. usually when a child has had more than 3 infections in a 3 month period, they consider putting tubes in their ears. if your child is congested or has a runny nose, this could be causing the infections, so you may want to give her some benadryl or some type of antihistamine. also, if you are giving your baby a bottle when they go to bed this could be causing it too because the fluid stays up by the ears rather than draining down the throat.

Answer 4

My son had 1 every month for 6 months. Sometimes they wouldn't go away. I would give my son the medicine faithfully! My son was under 1 when we had tubes put in his ears. It helped whole bunch. He is 3 now and last year he had a second set put in. He has had like 2 ear infections from the time he was 1 to almost 3. I would do have tubes put in. It got to a point that he had so many I had to take him to a hearing specialist to check and make sure his hearing wasn't damaged. I am surprised ur baby's doctor hasn't suggested tubes. I would ask about it, when you take her back to get her ear checked. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Our pediatrician doesn't even begin to consider tubes until after a child has had 5 ear infections in a year.

I'm not a doctor, and I don't know the specifics of your daughter's illnesses, but I think our pediatrician would look at what you've said and say that she probably had a resistant ear infection in her left ear, one that didn't resolve despite a course of treatment. She would have wanted a follow-up, and would have given you a different treatment plan after it didn't clear up the first time. So I think she would look at what you've said and say that really your daughter has had two, maybe three, ear infections. And she'd talk to you about avoiding them and avoiding colds and all that, but she wouldn't be talking surgery at this point...

Answer 6

You should be more concerned about how many antibiotics he's taking for those infections. They really should be avoided as long as possible, and the infection monitored by a doctor until antibiotics are absolutely needed.

When a child of that age, or any age, is repeatedly perscribed antibiotics for routine infections (even some ear infections) they lose their ability to fight infection, and more antibiotics are perscibed until eventually that medication IS his immune system.

I had boarderline rhumatic fever for three straight years from a doctor who perscribed antibiotics for every last infection I had as an infant and toddler.

its not fun being 8 and facing a shortened life because of infections caused from no immune system. I was to the point where I had an immunity to antibiotics.

Dont let your doctor do that to your kid. They do it because #1 it covers their malpractice asss, and #2 is cheaper than having to monitor the infection themselves. It does nothing for the child.

Answer 7

The best thing to do is take her to an ear, nose, and Throat specialist and see what he/she says. A good ENT will look at your child's records from the pediatrician and then make that determination from those and from his exam. Both of my boys have had tubes and in fact my 2 year old just went back for his 6 month check up yesterday. ENT's will usually suggest the removal of a child's tonsils and addenoids along with tubes in instances of recurrant infections. INot only have my own kids had this, I am a paramedic and see kids in our E.R. all the time who are referred to the hospital's ENT for the same.

Answer 8

Yes, I would. All 3 of my children have had to have them for the same reason. Our doctor said after 6 in 6 months that we should go to an ENT. However, with some doctors you may have to be more insistant. It's the health and hearing of your child and you have the right to ask the question and seek specialist advise on it. Don't wait. My daughter had already lost 60% of her hearing before getting tubes at 3 years old. She got her hearing back thank God, but it's possible that she wouldn't have as well.

Answer 9

my son never had any ear infections but had to have tubes when he was a year an a half cuz he couldnt hear. me on the other hand apparently had tons of them and got tubes when i was 5. and only occasiobaly got the infections after that. all i know is that ear infections are soooo extremely painfull it kills me to know a little baby has them i remember having them when i was a kid and i was misserable. so it sounds like ur poor girl is suffering i wouldnt determine how many she needs to have before recommending tubes. if tubes will help id get them asap cuz 1 ear infection is to much for a little baby to suffer through. good luck i hope she gets relief from something :(

Answer 10

Tubs? Like a bath tub or a tub of butter? Let your doc make the decision. Is there anything you are doing or not doing that is causing the infections?