Five Month Old with Ear Infection

No advice on the medication, but as far as soothing the pain have you tried using a hair dryer or a heating pad to soothe the pain? Also check with the pharmacist and see if it's okay to warm the ear drops in a cup of hot water before you put them in his ears. Other than that the tylenol is really all you can do until the infection clears up and the fluid drains.

M.,

try putting a few drops of peroxide in his ears. There is a website called earth clinic dot com where you can look up the information. But it has been said that it can cure an ear infection pretty quickly. I havent dealt much with ear infections, but do this when ever I feel a cold coming on and it zaps it right out of me.

Hope the little guy gets to feeling better.

In my experience, pediatritians follow a protocol of using a class of drugs that kills a large number of kinds of bugs, then tries other antibiotics if that doesn't work. I would ask about other meds. It seems unecessary that your child is still so uncomfirtable. Plus, ear infecions an cause ear damage and hearing loss if left untreated.
Good luck!

This may sound a little crazy but if you can get your son into the chiropractor it really really helps clear up ear infections and boosts his immune system. They do not adjust babies or children like they do adults. Ear infections are caused when the tubes allow fluid to build up. Witch means the tube is pinched when the chiropractor adjust them it frees up the tube and gets the fluid moving. I have a 3 year old and 1 year old twins they all get adjusted every few months. Believe me this works a lot faster then the medicine does because it treats the cause right away. West Chester Chiropractic is great with babies and children. No I do not work for them just really appreciate how great they are with my children and myself. Hope this helps

I agree with the previous poster. Zithromax isn't worth it! We've always gotten Amoxicillan (sp) first and if that doesn't work, Augmentin. Amox is actually free at Meijer too. I would call the doc and schedule another appt to have your sons ears re-checked. If he won't schedule your little guy today, either call another doc or take him to urgent care or the hospital. Is he still running a fever? You should never run a fever if you're on on antibiotic. You can give him Infant Motrin to help with the pain until you can get him in to see someone. If the antibiotics aren't working, his little eardrums can actually burst, causing much more pain. Don't take no for an answer!!! He should be feeling much better by now.

Dear M.,

I'm so sorry to hear bout your baby's terrible pain! I had recurring ear infections for years, and they are incredibly painful. One of them was so severe that my ear canal abscessed and ruptured within 12 hours of the onset of symptoms.

Have you seen an Ear Nose and Throat specialist? Mine had me come in every few days to have the excess gunk vacuumed out of my ear, and it helped to relieve the pressure.

Since your son has been on Zithromax for 5 days, the infection should begin to clear up soon. Mine usually lasted about a week. You might also want to try some cool compresses. They can help to relieve swelling. Ask your doctor about giving your son a little bit of yogurt with active cultures. That can help to keep a good balance of bacteria in his digestive system to counteract the effects of the antibiotic.

I am glad he is feeling better now! It is so hard when your child is sick. My 16 y.o. used to have horrible pain from ear infections. THe one thing I found to help was to give Children's Motrin or Ibuprofen. IT really seemed to work better for him than Tylenol, and is also a fever reducer. Just something to keep in mind for next time, and you know there will be a next time.
R.

I have 2 daughters who both have had their share of ear infections, and never once did the doctor prescribe Zithromax. It was ALWAYS either Augmentin or Amoxycillan.

Typically they'll tell you that when you're taking an antibiotic that you won't be able to really tell a difference until the 3rd day. Well - it's the third day. Call the dr. and ask why he prescribed Zithromax as opposed to Augmentin or Amoxicyllan, and see if he might consider changing it. (My sister was a pharmaceutical rep and said Zithromax isn't much better than taking a vitamin C pill.)

I would also get a second opinion and/or start taking him to another doctor.

Try giving your little guy Tylenol, and let him sleep in his car seat so his head will be elevated. Both of those should help at least somewhat.

Good luck!

You have to give any medication at least 24 hours to start working. Yes, we did this for 6 months with my grandson. Zithromax, yup, we would do 2 rounds of it before the infection would go away. My doctor would start us with the ear drops and oral medication at the same time to help with the pain.
Good luck and I will pray for your baby.

Get him to an ENT right away. My son had ear infections at 5 mos and did the course of antibiotics, which did nothing but he kept getting the ear infections. He eventually got bacterial meningitis at 6 1/2 mos old, from the recurring ear infections...and is severely debilitated with muscle movement disorder, seizure disorder, cannot walk, sit, feed, write. He is now 6 yrs old and a happy guy. But reflecting back to the ear infections as an infant and what I know now....I would take him to an ENT ASAP.

when my son was a baby he had 11 ear infections between 4-6mo. of age. we had a problem with the eardrops as well at first, it seemed that it would actually go all the way down to the infection, his dr. recomended putting a raisin sized piece of cotton with a few drops of the meds(it keeps the cotton from absorbing what you put in his ear) and then use a small piece of paper tape to hold it in place.the tape part didn't work, so we put a taboggin on his head to cover over his ears & it worked like a charm. i imagin with it being summer that's out, but you could use a sports head band just fine.i suggest sewing about a 2in wide piece of fabric across the top to keep it from sliding down 7 strangling him. i've been told i worry too much, i think you can't worry enough when it comes to your children. anywho, we only had to leave it on for about 30min, just to make sure the medicine got to where it was supposed to be. it took about 3-4 days to start working after we started using the drops. he had scare tissue in his canals & behind his ear drums, so they weren't draining properly & it kept him prone to infection, as soon as we found out, he had surgery & had it removed & tubes placed in(which he still has) and he hasn't had an ear infection since & he's no longer partially deaf. also, i read in one of your responses about giving him motrin, my son & daughters' doc said that giving a baby before the age of 6 mo. motrin/ibuprofin can cause kidney failure. their bodies just aren't developed enough to break it down. good luck & i hope this helps. God be with you.

Maybe you should take him to a ENT there is a very good one in elyria his name is Dr Gay he is great with little ones.
I never have had a lot of faith in reg peds when it comes to problems like this . and your hearing is very important.

As an adult having ear problems I can understand the awful pain your child is going through it is very painful I know when mine hurt so bad I could hardly stand the pain.
I wish you good luck with him and hope he gets better soon.

When my kids have had ear infections, I just put them to the breast as much as possible. Nothing is more comforting:) Good Luck!