Help! - Saint Louis, MO

Updated on December 05, 2007
S. asks from Saint Louis, MO
30 answers

My son is 10 months old. Today we went to the dr for a nasty cough he's got and we were told that his cough is fine and that he had a double ear infection. Ok, now here's my issue. My son is really not acting like he has an ear infection although I am giving him the antibiotics she gave me. Now, he is running a fever of 101.5, can I give him tylenol on top of the amoxicylin? Any help that you ladies can give me right away is appreciated!

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M.L.

answers from Kansas City on

Yes, you can give him Tylenol on top of the Amoxicillin. It is fine to double up on medications as long as the active ingredient in them is not the same.

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B.A.

answers from St. Louis on

Yes you can! The antibiotic works in a completely different part of the body that it will not affect the tylenol or Motrin (just as you can alternate tylenol and motrin overlapping).
Side note, I also wanted to say I had the same thing happen, I went to the doctor for a cough and my son had an ear infection. He wasn't acting like it, but my question is, was he screaming at the time of the exam? Is he cutting teeth? I think any of these could double as an ear infection because if they are crying the ear can be inflamed and I believe that if they are cutting teeth, there could also be inflammation from this...
I am hesitant to give antibiotics again...

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H.R.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Yes give the baby tylenol, just so you know not all kids show symptoms of ear infections and for babies the cough is usually the triger

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J.D.

answers from Tulsa on

Just a little comment on the ear infection. My daughter is very good at covering up any symptoms she may have. She is always happy and I hardly ever know if there is something wrong. I always know that when she gets congestion that she will get an ear infection regardless if she acts like it or not. Therefore I usually have my sister check them very frequently so I will know if I need to take her to the Dr. office. Your child may be reacting the same way as mine? Good Luck

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D.M.

answers from St. Louis on

Your ear canals are connected to your throat. Sometimes, if the nerves in your ear get irritated, it initiates a coughing reflex. Could that be the cause of your son's cough perhaps?

I know that whenever I stick a Q-tip in my left ear, I have to cough every time. (Strange, I know) But my brother does the same thing.

Also, many times, when you begin a treatment, the problem will get worse for a while instead of better. Normally, the first two days and nights are worse. The problem is, is that your child's immune system and the germs or viruses are in an all-out combat mode, and your child's body is the battlefield!

If you have any major concerns, just contact your pediatrician. If all else fails, get a second opinion. Maybe your pediatrician could refer you to a ear, nose, and throat doctor to confirm the ear infection?

And yes, it should be perfectly fine for you to give your son tylenol in addition to the antibiotics. My two youngest sons have ear infections quite often. Unfortunately, it's a family trait from his father. Just ask your pediatrician how much and how often you should give it to him and everything should be fine.

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M.L.

answers from Rockford on

Yes you can give tylenol on top of the meds. My girlfriends son gets ear infections all the time and never complains ever.
I am guessing he has a high pain tolerance. Or try infant motrin It breaks a fever faster. Also try sitting in the bathroom door shut with a hot shower running the steam will help his cough and any chest congestion

I had a second thought remember a fever will always go up at night. So just try to keep him comfortable with tylenol or motrin

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K.G.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Yes you can. One doesn't have anything to do with the other.
K.

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M.H.

answers from Tulsa on

Tylenol is fine w/ amoxicylin. They are totally different types of medications. All I can tell you is that I have given my children both and they do great together. Just give the tylenol every 4 hours. You can alternate w/ ibuprophen every 2 hours if needed for fever. Their fever always goes up in the evening. I would even set my alarm to check on them in the night to give more meds if needed.

My son NEVER showed signs of ear infections, but had them continually last winter and the doc said he couldn't believe that they looked so bad and he wasn't freakin' out.

Long story short...I put off tubes because of his heart defect (didn't want surgery) until I couldn't take it anymore (my son was suffering as well) and I had tubes put in. the doc said he was only hearing about 40% because there was so much thick fluid in there and they never would have gotten better. He has gone great ever since. I wish I would have done it sooner to prevent all the infections.

Chiropractor helps also.

Good Luck!

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S.B.

answers from Wichita on

Very good question!! Yes you can! Just make sure you do the normal dose and follow the directions. It is completly safe. Good luck to ya!! I have been there with three children at the same time!! Also don't bundle him up make sure you just let him sleep either in the nude or a onsie. Bundling up will not make the fever go away faster. You want him to cool off. Try a luke warm bath. Just ask if you have any more questions.

~S.

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A.B.

answers from St. Louis on

Amoxicillin and Tylenol together are definately ok. I'm a pharmacist so this is sound advice. Just make sure you have the appropriate dose of tylenol to give from your doctor. It is weight dependent at your son's age.

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C.S.

answers from Peoria on

Hello there S.,

Yes yes yes. You can give him tylenol and ibuprophen on top of the antibiotic that they gave you. Many times, we alternate every four hours. Give tylenol, then four hours later give ibuprophen, then four hours later, give tylenol again. That will make him not so lathargic. He should start acting a little more like himself again.

Good luck to you!

C.
www.EnhanceYourWayOfLife.com

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A.R.

answers from St. Louis on

Watch the cough! Three weeks ago my daughter started with a cough and I took her to the doctor immediately. She had the beginning of double ear infections but the doctor wasn't worried about the cough. Well two days later she wasn't better and her nose was running and her cough was making her vomit so we went to the ER per the recommendation of the pediatrician and she was diagnosed with RSV. Luckily it was a mild case and she is better now but if the cough changes then call the doctor. I hope your baby feels better soon!

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C.P.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Hello,
Yes, It is safe to give tylenol with Amoxicylin. As long as your son doesnt have any allergies to either medication. Anytime you have questions about mixing medications Walgreens Pharmacy is open 24 hours and they have always been helpful to me when I have called them to ask them these type of questions.

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C.R.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Tylenol and amoxicillin are two totally different types of drugs. They can be taken together. Give Tylenol every four hours. Children often have ear infections without having any other symptoms.

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V.M.

answers from Kansas City on

you know my son has been sick for over a month, and with a cough i gave him robitussen didnt work but hes been on that amoxycillyn or whatever with breathing treatments i would give him a little bit of tylenol see how that works just to bring his temp down or alternate the tylenol and i cant think of the other med.

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L.

answers from St. Louis on

Yes you can i have been down that road a thousand times i have 2 children almost 4 and 1. they both have tubes in there ears because the infections were so bad. My daughter is actually just getting over a double ear infection and her fever got up to 104.3. they normally dont act like there ears are bothering them. But tylenol is just fine. you may even want to do motrin it helps for a longer period of time.

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A.H.

answers from Springfield on

Yes, you can give him Tylenol on top of his antibiotic. He'll probably appreciate it! I had the same thing happen to me. I took my son in because he had a cough and a fever and found out he had an ear infection. He'd shown no symptoms of having an ear infection, so I was quite surprised. I finished out the course of antibiotics and gave him Tylenol for his fever. He was fine. Hope this helps!

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S.S.

answers from Kansas City on

S.,
You can give him tylenol and ibuprofen to help with the fever. You can only give the ibuprofen every 6 hours, and the tylenol every 4 hours. It worked for my sons fever..
Good Luck..

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M.G.

answers from Tulsa on

I recently went through the exact same issue with my 2 y/o. I never suspected she had an ear infection at all but she had that nasty cough and that was exactly our scenerio- double ear infection! Luckily, she took it very well. But to answer your question, as long as he is otherwise healthy, yes you absolutely can give him tylenol along with the amoxicillin. I'm surprised the doc. didn't tell you that from the start, poor baby! You can check with your local pharmacy or your pediatrician for the dose according to his weight. My suggestion is to steer clear of the Motrin (ibuprofen) though. Good luck!

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C.G.

answers from Kansas City on

yes you can give them tylenol with antibiotics, and also motrin/advil, how long has he been on the antibiotics.... he should NOT be running a fever if he has been on them for more then 48 hours, that would indicate that the infection is worse then before and the meds are not working. also, for the cough he had previous, I know it sounds strange but the eustation(spelling?) tubes in your ears drain in your throat. it is a feeling much like post nasal drip, that tickle itchy feeling, and that was the cause. If he gets that again, try giving him Benedryl to dry it up, and perhaps avoid an infection. if he is in pain, tylenol would be indicated, but remember your body uses fever to fight infection, so you do not always want it gone completely. good luck

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S.S.

answers from Springfield on

Tylenol can be used with most meds, but fevers serve the purpose of raising the body temp, which kills the germs. Granted you don't want your son to "cook", but it might not hurt him to have the fever for a while, unless it gets higher. I think 102 is upper end of normal.

S.

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D.H.

answers from St. Louis on

YES! If fever rises above 101 you nay alternate Tylenol & Motrin infaant dose.
Mom of four 8, 10, 12, 19. raiing 3 & 5 yr old step grands.

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R.M.

answers from Tulsa on

I would go ahead and give the Tylenol to your child. That should be fine. But I would give the Dr a call back and let her know that your child is still running a fever while taking the antibiotics. I am not a Dr. but I do not think that after one starts antibiotics that they should still be running the fever. After all, the antibiotics are supposed to be killing the bacteria that is causing the infection. If there is still a fever, that is still a sign of an infection.
Good luck and I hope he feels better soon!!

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J.C.

answers from Kansas City on

S.,

My son is the same way, I am always shocked when they tell me he has an ear infection because he never tells me his ear hurts or is never pulling on it. He is now 6 but he has always been that way.

It is OK to give tylenol with the anitbiotic but I have found that Children's Motrin works much better than tylenol.

As for his cough, this may sound wierd but I've heard that it works. At bed time put vicks mentholatum on his feet and put socks on him. It is supposed to help with the cough. I haven't had the opportunity to try it yet. Wouldn't hurt to try if the cough is keeping him up at night.

Good Luck,

J. C

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H.M.

answers from Wichita on

Two of my children suffered from ear infections. I was continually going to the dr every 2-3 months. Finally, my dr suggested Sudafed. Give every 2 hours, child cannot overdose. No more ear infections, ever. Also, yes you can give Tylenol on top of an antibiotic.

H.

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C.H.

answers from St. Louis on

Make sure you give him the Tylenol and then you can go to Motrin. Tylenol say at 12 and then Motrin at 4, every 4 hours or you can just stick with Tylenol. Poor little thing. I hope he feels better. Tylenol will not hurt at all.

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J.K.

answers from St. Louis on

S.. My son is also 10 months old and has a double ear infection, his first. I didn't know he had an ear infection until he was up one night for 3 hours crying, so I can relate. Our doctor told me to keep giving him the Tylenol while giving him the antobiotic medicine. My understanding is that they work in tandum, one treating the symptoms (tylenol) and one treating the infection (antibiotics). Therefore, I would say "no problem" on the Tylenol. J.

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S.W.

answers from Springfield on

yes you can give motrin or tylenol on top of amoxiclyn. My doctor has me do it for my son. What i do is i rotate tylenol and motrin. so that is an option to. But my suggestion is to always ask your doctor first. IF i were you i might think about switching doctors.

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C.G.

answers from Tulsa on

I feel your pain. Having a young child that is sick is no fun at all. But any time that my daughter was other meds and she had a fever I ALWAYS gave her Tylenol. Just make sure that you give the proper amount needed for their age. But it helps break the fever and makes them sleepy. And their little bodies need as much sleep as they can get when they are sick. Just make sure you give your little one plenty of fluids as well. Such as water or Pedialite. I always found that to work really well with a fever. Hope this helps you out!

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N.C.

answers from St. Joseph on

My son got terrible ear infections when he was less than a year. You can give him Tylenol with the anitbiotic. If it is still really bothering him you can give him Motrin. I think it works better. You can check with your Dr. first though if you aren't comfortable. I would just call there and talk to the nurse and they can tell you.

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