15Mo W/ear Infection Isn't Taken Medicine Well

Updated on May 24, 2009
E.G. asks from San Bernardino, CA
20 answers

My 15 mo old daughter has an ear infection in both ears. She was prescribed amoxicillin to be administered with a syringe. Everytime I give her the medicine she throws it. I'm concerned that none of the medicine is getting into her system. Any suggestions on how to get her to take the medicine without throwing it up? Also, she is not eating very good basically not at all. Tried giving her everything. She still nurses and that's all she will take right now. Her BM are very watery yellow. Not sure if that is related to.

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone for your advice/suggestions. I took her back to the doctor and they gave her a shot (rocephin). She didn't want to eat anything for 4 days only nurse. She is much better now. Her appetite is back and her BM are regular.

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A.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try the dosing spoon. I got mine from the pharmacist and my daughter seems to be doing better not having the medicine "forced down her throat." I give her a little, then some water, then we finish it.

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M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Most ear infections will go away without antibiotics. I wouldn't worry about it. Maybe her BM are different bacause she is fighting an infection. She doesn't feel good, maybe that is why she is not eating.
My daughter doesn't like the hard syringes. I use one that's softer.
Good luck!

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C.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

I'd call the pediatrician's office and ask if they can prescribe a different medicine.

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B.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Did you call the Dr. about the throwing up? It seems to me that is one known negative side effect of Amoxicillin and maybe an indication that she is intolerant of it and needs to be taking something else. Make sure you talk to the Dr. and not an RN or PA. I have had negative experiences where the PA told me one thing, and when I finally got ahold of the Dr. her advices was the exact OPPOSITE of what the PA had told me. I am not sure, I may be thinking of a different antibiotic, but it is definitely worth a phone call. I also Highly Recommend the book by three Pediatricians, Lendon Smith, Schmitt, and I can never remember the third one, callled "50 or so Ways to Boost Immunity and Avoid Antibiotics". Very helpful information to have in your arsenal of "Mommy Knowledge".

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J.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

i would take her back and ask for a different medication she may be allergic to the penicillan family of medicines. she shouldnt throw it up.

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A.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have an 18 month who likes to spit it out too. I mix it in with anything that he'll drink - milk, juice, anything. I usually don't give him juice but if that is the only way to get him to take his medicine that is what I'd do. I asked the pharmacist if it was okay to mix amoxicillin with something (ie milk, juice) and she said it was fine. Just make sure that you put in the amount that she'll actually drink so that she gets all of the medicine.

Good luck! That is the ONLY way that I've gotten my little guy to keep his down!

p.s. I just saw someone write something about being allergic. I have one of my kids who is allergic to amoxicillin. It takes about a week of taking the medicine (usually) to have the reaction start. On my little guy it started as little red dots and then got bigger and bigger and spread like crazy.

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H.W.

answers from San Diego on

Take her back to the doctor. They can give her a antibiotic shot.

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J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Ear infections are nearly always caused by diet issues. Dairy and sugar will cause them most of the time, sometimes wheat, peanut butter, etc can as well. In fact, the research shows that after administering an antibiotic for otitis media, that it increases the risk of another ear infection by 33%.

Your daughter's body obviously is rejecting this. You may want to try Herbs for Kids Echinacea/Goldenroot, as well as PB8 and we also use therapeutic doses of vitamin A&D. Many of our firends go to a local pediatric chiropractor and their ear infections are gone within 12 hours of the adjustment and supplementation.

I've never had an antibiotic in my entire life - so there are things you can do. Feel free to contact me privately, if you want more info.

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H.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Dear E.,
Call you pediatrician. You daughter may be allergic to amoxicillin if she continually throws it up. There may be another medicine he can try or give you some other form such as a suppository.
I hope you gets better quickly. It is good that she is nursing.
H.

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R.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

When my daughter is sick, the only thing she wants is to nurse. I also try to give her the purple gatorade and apple juice, to keep her fluids up. At this point (2yrs) mine is almost weaned, so I don't know what I will do when she gets sick next time.
Good luck
R.

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J.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi E.! My 18 month old had a double ear infection last Christmas when she was 13 months old. She too would throw up every time she had the antibiotic. I am allergic to amoxicillin and I was fearful of that with her. The doctor said that she was throwing up because she had an empty stomach and the antibiotic can be tough on their little bellies (& our grown up bellies for that matter too). Because she was not eating, hardly drinking, and only breastfeeding they gave her a shot of rocephin, another antibiotic. The one shot is all you need, and you do not need to take pills after. Within 24 hours of the shot she was noticeably better and 48 hours she was almost all better, but still fatigued. I hope that helps & I hope that your little one gets better soon! It's so tough to see them sick :(

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M.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi E.,
Your daughter might be allergic to the amoxicillin. Check with the doctor about that.
As for only wanting to nurse, that is totally normal. It's the ultimate comfort food, plus it's the best for her, so that should be just fine.
Also, my son used to get lots of ear infections. Make sure that you don't give her any over the counter cold medicines. Those actually promote ear infections. They slow down the movement of mucus and such, which then get trapped in the ear and grow infections. My son's dad used to give him medications at his house at the first sniffle, and my son would end up with an infection every time.
At night time I used to sit holding him up so as to keep his head elevated. That eases some of the pain and helps them to sleep.
I know how hard it can be to have a little one whose ears hurt. Love to you and your little one.
M.

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M.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I know most ear infections can clear up without the antibiotics so if it is still then then take her in, if she looks like it is getting better she is probably on the right track. When they are sick they don"t want to eat. it is kinda good and bad. freaks us out but her body is trying to keep all this food from getting to the bacteria in her infections. My daughters would only nurse when they were sick, and my oldest went a whole day on only sips of pedalite when she had the stomach flu. The next day only breastmilk and then slowly she started foods until 5 days later she was able to eat a little more.

her poop would be more yellow cuz of the increase in BM and the decrease of food. will go back when she is eating more solids of. remember, just like baby poop cuz she is eating more like she did when she was younget
Keep up the work nursing her, that is the best you can do for her right now cuz it helps boost her immunity

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T.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi, wanted to let you know what I do....!st I always make sure my child is adjusted first. I know that a lot of times just getting him adjusted always the body to heal the infection. 2nd to sooth the pain I warm up olive oil and crush garlic into the pot together-simmer for 30 seconds and then pour out in cup let cool for a couple seconds then with a cotton ball squeeze into ear. It is okay to have garlic go into the ear. The warm oil will sooth the pain and the garlic acts like a natural antibiotic to heal the infection.

You want to make sure antibiotics are used at a minimal rate. As I'm sure you've read, the over use of antibiotics is a real thing. Antibiotics destroy your stomach's natural flura---these are tiny hairlike structures on your intestines that move good and bad bacteria through. With the use of Antibiotics these hairlike structures are destroyed and as you can guess build up of bacteria can damage the body. That is probably why her BM's are yellow and watery. You can also put breast milk in the ears, this too will help naturally fight the infection.

Getting adjusted increases the immune system which in turn allows the body to heal itself.

Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions....my office specializes in children so I would love to help if you'd like.

Dr. T.

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A.T.

answers from Los Angeles on

Two possibilities from my experience... 1) stop the medicine, start her on Mullein/garlic drops for the ears and a baby probiotic for her tummy. or 2) call the dr and find out what you should look for.

My little man had a really bad reaction to the antibiotics when he was about 15 months old. He got REALLY dehydrated and was pooping approximately 15 times per day. He was in such bad shape! He wouldn't eat or drink, and the doctors just kept sending me home to give him more fluids. They said he "could have Cdiff, but it is highly unlikely". Well, after several days of this, I took him to the emergency room. We were in the hospital for 4 days with -- no surprise here -- Cdiff.

We all can get it if our gut flora are set off balance. I don't mean to scare you, but do what you can to get some serious probiotic down her and some liquids. The probiotics come in powder form or of course there is kiefer or yogurt.

Good luck, and I hope she gets better soon!

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R.J.

answers from San Diego on

Probably the syringe squirt is either hitting a gag reflex, or she hates the taste, or a combo of both.

Try making her a bottle/sippy cup with "hot chocolate", or whatever her favorite special drink is. Something with flavor to mask the medicine taste. Squirt the medicine in, shake it, and give it to her. You can do the same with Tylenol, ibuprophen, and other kid's liquid meds.

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H.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Mullein oil with garlic. Buy at a health food store and get the ear drops with the dropper included. Warm the outside of the bottle under running water of your sink at home. Put some drops in your babies' ear (1 ear only for now) and some cotton. Try to help her keep her cottoned ear up, other ear down for a while. After a few hours, you may want to try the other ears.

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V.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

meant to include this as a source with my answer
http://askwaltstollmd.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.html
hope you'll find info on antibiotic alternatives
Good Luck
V.

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B.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had the doctor give my daughter an antibiotic shot. Cleared it right up...

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E.C.

answers from Honolulu on

Hi. I know that is very hard. Here is a tip. My son also had an ear infection, and he really hates it when I give it to him with the syringe. I saw this on a TV show, and it worked for me. Use a nipple from the bottle, and put the medicine in it. Hold it upside down so the medicine doesn't spill out and nurse your baby at a 45 degree angle. Hopefully it kind of "tricks" your little girl. She might take it if she has to suck on it. If it is difficult, then attach the bottle to "trick" her a little more. I hope that works.

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