Ear Infection and Antibiotics for 4Yr Old

I understand your concern over too much antibiotics. I believe that a normal course of antibiotics for an ear infection is 10 days total, so if she was only on 6 days then for sure ok. It is better to establish is she's really allergic to penicillan's - that is a very important piece for her medical history. My (educated) guess is that after that short a time on antibiotics she's not going to get a yeast infection - my son was given an antibiotic for a sinus infection, it apparently wasn't strong enough because shortly after he finished he had still had a sinus infection AND an ear infection....but after a course of a stronger antibiotic he was fine, and still didnt have a yeast infection. If you are super concerned you could just get some extra yogurt or other probiotics for her. Hope she feels better soon!

Plainly stated, yes. There is a heightened risk of yeast infection any time antibiotics are used. When several different antibiotics are used, it can lead to an even greater risk

I would avoid grains and all dairy products, with the exception of a good yogurt that's high in active cultures, and oats as the grain of choice.

I had ear infections, strep throat, and sinusitis most of my life, and was put on powerful doses of antibiotics pretty frequently. I never found relief, or a way of avoiding the "inevitable" infections until I saw an integrative M.D. who told me to avoid all dairy, wheat, and sugar. I had a systemic yeast overload, and was miserable. Within about a week of starting this plan, I begn to feel dramatically better, and I haven't had a single symptom of any of those old infections (used to have 5 - 7 per year!) since February.

If you can get your daughter to eat a spoonful of yogurt with active cultures with every dose of antibiotic, it can help to keep the yeast from taking over.

Good luck!

Antibiotics should not be taken for more than 10 days to 2 weeks. It destroys friendly bacteria! WHILE you're on an antibiotic, you need to make SURE to try and replenish it with yogurt - a good source of friendly bacteria. STAY AWAY from yogurt w/ high fructose corn syrup and high sugar content. Make your own w/ plain/vanilla yogurt, if you have to..and add your own fruit.

I'm not sure about how much is too much, but I suggest you go get some probiotics when you're done with the antibiotics. They will help even her system back out. You can get them at places like Whole Foods in the vitamin and homeopathic section. Get the refridgerated type, they are the best. It will help make sure she doesn't have stomach trouble or get a yeast infection.

My son was actually 18 months when he was two diff antibiotics for one week ea with a couple of days of rest in-between. The second antibiotic gave him a bad diaper rash. I used Lotrimin on it and it helped a lot. I did finish the antibiotics and he was fine within a couple of days after the antibiotics were out of his body. You can ask the pharmacist about the other antibiotics that are available. Not to say anything bad abt drs but often pharmacists have a better knowledge of drugs than drs. I would be careful as far as stopping the antibiotics and not doing anything else about the ear infection. I know a little boy who has 70% hearling loss in one of his ears due to not completing antibiotics for ear infections.

If her pain continues, you might give a thought to chiropractic. Dr. French in Madison is awesome, I take my kids there and I go myself. He just healed an earache that I had for 3 weeks, antibiotics (keflex) didn't work for me either.

Good luck!

R.

I would treat an ear infection with Floxin Otic (a prescription ear drop) rather than using an oral antibiotic.

You should get her a probiotic (Culturelle) or something similar to re-establish the good bacteria and help to prevent things like yeast overgrowth.

Get a 2nd opinion. Most doctors today won't give antibiotics just for an ear infection once a child is over a year old. They clear up on their own with no meds within 7-10 days 99% of the time. All 3 of my kids have had their fair share of ear infections and most of the time they don't compain at all, or just a little (like when laying down). They go away within a week with no antibiotics.

Antibiotics are great - if needed. However, there are many health risks like causing a yeast infection because it screws up the body's natural balance. You also don't want her to be exposed to too many antibiotics early on or later in life she may end up immune to all of them... when she might have a disease that REALLY needs antibiotics to clear it up.

I would avoid antibiotics as much as possible. My 2 yo son had multiple ear infections his first year and I only had him on antibiotics once. They were awful - gave him diarrhea and vomiting. After 3 days, I couldn't even get him to take the medicine.

I did lots of reading on the topic. From what I gathered, there is usually nothing wrong with "riding out" an ear infection. There is rarely any risk of permanent hearing damage. And they can take acetaminophen for the pain.

I also looked into holistic remedies. The chiropractor seemed to really help my son. We took him on 3 or 4 different occasions. Also there's an ear oil sometimes called Garlic ear oil or Mullien oil. That may help. It can be found at places like Whole Foods.

Lastly, your daughter can get a yeast infection, not to mention general stomach discomfort, from the antibiotics. If you choose to continue the meds, I would suggest getting some probiotics to help. You can find probiotics specifically for children. I had some for my son that I found at Whole Foods that was for 0-5 yo. It was a powder that you dissolve into their drink.

Ear infections are no fun. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I know this may sound crazy to you, but take her to a Chiropractor. I have 3 friends and their children always used to get ear infections. Since they have been taking them to the Chiro they never had one again! It is safe and painless. The one friend even had tubes put in her son's ears two times and they fell out both times.

My son had fluid built up in his ear and his Pediatrician prescribed an antibiotic. I took him to the Chiro (he goes regularly anyway) and it cleared up without giving him the medicine.

My oldest was once on antibiotics for a month for an ear infection. Yes, yeast infections are possible - but there's a way to help prevent that - have her eat yogurt. THere's a special symbol to look for on the packages "LAC" - for Live and Active Cultures. I know fat-free plain Dannon has the symbol on it. Both my daughters love yogurt, and the youngest has hardly had any yeast infections because of it.

Food luck!

As moms we tend to really really worry over anything from how well our kids are talking to the medicine and treatment their bodies receive. Lets not forget that doctors are not going to do something to your child that could endanger them. Amoxycillin is normally a 10 day course, so 6 days on it with a couple more thrown in are nothing. But aside from that, if you are worried about a urinary tract infection, just push fluids on her. My daughter was on 3 rounds of antibiotics when she was 2 to knock out a serious sinus infection, and although I didn't like how sick she was, I trusted her doctor at the time and knew he was doing what she needed. She ended up having to have her adenoids removed and tubes put in her ears after all that medicine, but now she is 6 and wonderful!

One other treatment you can use instead of antibiotics is tea tree oil. It can be mixed part for part with sweet oil to cut down on the smell. It can be found at Discount Drug Mart or other drug stores (call first). You just mix it equally and put a couple drops in the ear with your child laying on their side. Let it sit in there for a couple minutes, if they'll stay still, and then do the other ear if necessary. You should put a towel down for them to lay their head on so the oil that comes out doesn't get on anything else. Use the oil a couple times a day for 2-3 days.

I also agree with the posts that recommend chiropractic. Unfortunately my chiropractor is closed Fri-Sun so I needed the oil as an alternative.

Be careful with too many antibiotice, please!! My daughter is 22 months now, but back in March she took antibiotics for 10 days and then she got bloody diarrhea. She was diagnosed with clostridium difficile (C. Diff), a bacterial infection in her intestines. Her pediatrician said she has only seen 3 cases in 7 years and they all were cured in 7-10 days, but not my daughter!! She had C. Diff for about 5 months and she was on medication after medication to get rid of if. She had abdominal x-ray, ultrasound, barium enema contrast study, upper endoscopy and colonoscopy through this whole process. I know our case my be rare but you need to know the risks. You can google clostridium difficile on the web or ask your doctor. My daughter had the recurrent C. Diff and it was the most aweful experience and I don't want anyone else to have to go through that!!!! Good luck, hope everything goes ok!!!

I also have a 4 year old with an ear infection. She has suffered with them too many times in my opinion in her little life so far. Every time she is on an antibiotic, I give her a little acidophilus tablet with her breakfast. You can get it an any health food store. This keeps the yeast infections and diarrea away. I give her children's Motrin right along with the antibiotics to keep the pain down. I am now going to go to a specialist to get a more professional opinion, b/c have heard of long term damage caused by ear infections. I would finish the dose of the current antibiotic until you are sure the infection is gone. Although, I just don't like pumping their little bodies with them too much. Some don't even work on these types of infections. I heard that ear infections clear up on their own most of the time, and pain relief meds are all they need. That's true if it's viral, but how do you know?!?!?! I'm with you on this one! Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

Having been through the ear infection problem for over 9 months before finally seeing an ENT (at my demand) and getting the problem resolved with my youngest I will tell you the following.
The normal balance in our bodies carries yeast. I get active yeast infections from amoxil and ampacil in less than 6 hours, emyacil causes horrid stomache cramping and the runs in 8. It is my belief if your daughter was going to develope an active yeast infection it would all ready be raging!

Changing antibiotics is a pain as they remain in your system for a few days after you stop taking them and I shrink at the expense financially.

I worry about the Dr's today, I really do! Keflex, Z packs, Bicillian, and yes, penicillin I have no problems or reactions to at all! To see if she has a problem with penicillin my big toe!!! Bicillin would answer that question not the other meds.

What did he suggest you use to clear up the rash?

Keep her flushing her system with plenty of fluids, I agree with the lady about the product from the health food store. If she has this problem again in the next few months several times demand to see an ENT.

Anyone can develop and yeast infection from antibiotics. Make sure she's eating lots of yogurt to help ward off a yeast infection. They always say with antibiotics that you have to take them till they are gone. If her ear still hurts, it's probably still infected. I say finish the antibiotic. I'm guessing that she'll have to go in for a check up after the antibiotics are done right? I would trust your doc on this one.

She should be fine but with any broad spectrum antibiotic yeast infections are always possible, not necessarily because of overuse but mostly from our normal flora and body chemistry reacting. Just keep giving her fluids and watch for rashes on her bottom. If one occurs apply Lotrimin AF used twice a day. I have not had any problems with this with either my daughter or my four neices. I believe the chance would be much greater had she completed all three rounds of antibiotics but she did not. Also, it is very common for kids to be allergic to penicillin and Keflex. Keflex is a 'cousin' to penicillin.

Good luck!