Mom Seeking Ear Infection Advice!!!

Updated on April 19, 2007
J.L. asks from New Smyrna Beach, FL
21 answers

Im here again to ask more medical advice!! Everyone was so helpful last week - this is a continuation of my saga... my ds is finally all better from the bad stomach bug, so now, the dr wants him to go back on ammox for the infected ear. I took him to the dr for a re-check today to make sure the ear was still infected b/f filling the Rx. Dr said it is - he knows how I dont want to put ds back on ammox so he said I could let it heal naturally - it would take about 1-2 weeks, or I could do the Rx. I told him we have a plane ride scheduled next week - he said that might actually help b/c it may pop his ears and cause the fluid to come out (??!!) Or he said, if I give him amox now, it may be healed by then. I cant decide what to do!! He just has such bad adverse reactions to the amox (diah, rashes, tired, cranky)

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S.F.

answers from Melbourne on

Have you tried zithromax. Both of mykids have had a TON of ear infections. My oldest has had tubes put in 3 times ad my 15 month old only once so far. We use zithromax b/c it seems to help a lot with no reverse reactions.

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T.F.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi, I would definitely ask for another medication. There are several out there. Personally I hate to drag out any illness for my little one if something will clear it up sooner. Also, the plane ride could have the opposite effect. It could be more painful than usual. Good Luck.

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A.S.

answers from Gainesville on

J.,

My son suffered with ear infections the first 7 months of his life (he is 5 yrs now), so I understand what you are going through. We ended up getting tubes in his ears. Unfortunately, the side effects of the amox is all too common. My advice would be to administer the amox for a couple of reasons.

First, you don't want you child in pain. You could couple the amox with motril and tylenol to help. Second, if you don't give the amox and you go on your plane ride, there is a chance that you son has unbelievable ear pain before his ears could pop. If that happens there is nothing you can do but watch and listen to your child in pain and that is the worst. My 13 year old son and I were on a plane years ago when he started to have awful ear pain and he only had sinus issues. I couldn't do anything but hold his ears and watch him cry, it was awful!

When my youngest had so many ear infections amox didn't work for him. It would ease the symptoms but the infection would never completely go away. We had to change him to Augmentin (the strong one), after going through everything else first. I'm not sure if your situation is the same, but I just wanted to make you aware of mine.

Anyway, I hope your son gets better soon. Good luck!

A.

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H.A.

answers from Orlando on

why can they not try another abt on your son. My daughter does not get "Well" on amox so we use a differnet med for her ear infection. It seems that your peds dr may not be right for you. have you ever thought of changin to a different dr so that you could look for a dr that might listen to your suggestions. we used omnifecft??? (spelling) it was great!!! it just makes the poop bright red. so know that going in? I would go tot the after hours peds. and ask for that. tell them that you tried amox and it does not work.

good luck and keep us posted.just my thoughts.
H.

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K.H.

answers from Orlando on

Hi J., Our 14 month old had an ear infection that was going on 3 months. They had her on 4 different meds. They ended up giving her 1 shot a day for 3 days. We took her to Nemours Clinic in Orlando. The specialist there put tubes in her ears. We haven't had a problem since. We were also told that depending on the type of infection it can cause hearing loss. Brianna lost 20% in both ears. Also, speech can be affected. Good luck. Switch drs. if this one does not listen to you. K.

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D.

answers from Boca Raton on

Just curious why the doctor can't prescribe him something else, like Omnicef or Duricef, instead of the Amoxicillan?

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A.H.

answers from Fort Myers on

Most ear infections DO clear up on their own. I would avoid the rx if that's what your gut is telling you to do.

Antibiotics take away the good flora in your gut and if your going to be flying you want his immune system to be working good not going on empty. OR if you do give the rx you could also give him some probotics, they have childrens chewable ones at the health food store. They help build up the good flora.

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S.T.

answers from Port St. Lucie on

Hi J.. My son, now two and three months, had multiple ear infections. He had amox., but there are a lot more scripts out there for ear infections. What about a different one?

Also, if they have more than four or five in a short period of time, they suggest tubes, at least they did for us. I had tubes put in my son's ears at fifteen months and he has not had a single ear infection or even been sick since then. He was a very sick little boy most of the time until we had the surgery.

Just food for thought.

Good luck to you and your family.

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E.T.

answers from Gainesville on

I know how you feel with a child and an ear ache, my youngest son seems to alway have an ear ache especially after swimming. Either Virus or swimmer's ear it is alway painful to see them go through it with not much you can do...My DR gave me Cortisporin-TC drops for the ear. It worked, later that night he was free of pain and on his way to recovery. The DR gave me an extra RX bottle of it to keep on hand. He also told me that I could use alcohol to help dry the ear of any moisture and always a good idea to use it after they get their ears wet. A heating pad on low also soothes the pain. Oral antibotics are harsh, if it seems to give him a rash, demand the DR to change it. It may be an allergic reaction..both my kids were allegric to amoxicillin.

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A.H.

answers from Boca Raton on

I agree with some of the other moms, your doctor should be prescribing some other meds that your son can take. Very irresponsible if he does not. I have also been told that untreated ear infections can lead to hearing problems later on.

Good luck to you.

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E.V.

answers from Fort Myers on

Hi J.! Our sons are close in age, although my O is a bit older. We have been plagued by ear infections and tummy viruses repeatedly since December. I too am very hesitant to throw pink stuff at him for everything because everytime he takes it, he ends up with several other bugs afterwards [as a result of it killing the good flora]! Finally, at my wits end, I took him to a local chiro who is also a DO. He suggested pure, unrefined coconut oil for the ears. He said it "eats" the infection causing bacteria, but leaves the good stuff (exactly the opposite of amoxicillan.) It also seemed to sooth my son painwise. They sell it at healthfood stores and it should be kept refrigerated once opened. It's solid when cold and a bit can be warmed in a small dish placed in warm water until it is liquid, then, I use an eyedropper to drop 4 drops into each ear. I then gently rub the outer ear a bit to get the drops to go down into the ear canal. My son refuses to allow me to put cotton in his ears, but the infection cleared up weeks ago and we have not had any recurrences. :) I also have him on a children's probiotic supplement to boost his immunity because it seems like he was sick for months around Christmas and the new year. Best of luck to you and your little boy.

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T.F.

answers from Orlando on

No advice on clearing up the ear infection... But I remember when my sister and I were little and our ears hurt on a plane, the stewardess would give us hot cups- they would run steamy hot water on paper towels, wring them out, and place them in styrofoam cups. I'm not sure they even use styrofoam cups anymore... but maybe they can still do it with plastic cups... Anyway, we would put the cups up to our ears and the steam would relieve the pressure during landing. I have heard that for ear ache pain, heat up a potato in the microwave and the steam/heat helps --- but of course you have to be careful not to burn him!

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N.K.

answers from Orlando on

My son had a lot of ear infections and our doctor always wanted to put Alex on Ammox... I was told to mix 50% white vinager with 50% peroxide and gently clean the ear out. I used an eye droper and if Alex was pulling at his ear I would start rinsing his ear out with this solution and it cleared up before I would have to take him to the doc's. Hope this helps!!
N. :)

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H.G.

answers from Fort Myers on

First of all the doctor is full of it!! i've been throught lot of ear inferctions and so has my daughter!!! and he needs to be on meds that doctor can give him something else for it i'm allergic to amox an so it my baby and do not let it heal natturally it will cause scaring in the ear drum(witch will effect his hearing later) and as far as flying if his ear pops with fluid in it it gonna hurt relllllyyyy bad! and also the fluid will get caught in the ear drum and he will need surgery (tubes) to get the fluid out it wont help to fly it will make it worse! if enything take him to another doc and if you cant get him in take him to the ER and tell them hes allergic to anox. so theyll give him something else!! good luck and dont listen to this doctor about this! good luck and let me know what happens!!! H.

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S.R.

answers from Orlando on

Why is your doctor still giving him Amox? My kids do not do well on that either. There are pleny of things for them to get including the antibiotic ear drops. They take longer to work, but it also has an agent in it for pain in it. Ask him about that instead. Your doctor should be trying other things if your child is reacting that bad to the Amox. Be firm & if that fails try a different doctor.

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C.S.

answers from Melbourne on

If your child had a rash on ammox he is allergic! This is a strain of penicillin. My daughter had the rash once and it was never prescribed again. May be time to get a new Dr.! Also, many ear infections develop as a side effect of allergy. Try taking him off of any and all dairy. See your local health food store for alternatives. Almond milk is great! If the ear infections stop then you have found your culprit. Also, you need to put the good bacteria back in the digestive system. Use after antibiotics are all gone, not during. Health food store will help you find the right dosage and type for your child's age. If you are near a Paradise store they are excellent. Take Care!

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Y.P.

answers from Port St. Lucie on

If he has no real symptoms of it (fever, cranky, pian, sleeplessness) and the doctor said it would go away by it self than try it. I feel the same way..I hate having to give my son antibiotics everytime for an ear infection but most of the time I do bcuz his ear infection usually come with fever and I hate fever, they scare me. Hope this helps!

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N.V.

answers from Boca Raton on

my daughters had alot of ear infections this yr alone we finally put tubes in her ear so far so good... thier are other meds your doctor can give your son.my daughter didn't do well with ammox shed never get better so he tried new things but in the mean time to help with the pain try bengay behind the ear works great within minutes they are feelin better... hope he feels better soon

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D.

answers from Miami on

My granddaughter had a contant problem with ear infections, our doctor told us that you should never let an ear infection go untreated... you are risking hearing problems in the future.
I would get the doctor to give you something else for the infection and get rid of the infection before you travel.

The first doctor we used for my granddaughter was constantly giving us a Rx for ear infections and she just kept getting them back. We finally went to another doctor that our whole family uses and he told us that the best way to treat ear infections is to prevent them. He gave her an Rx the infection cleared up, he then gave her a Rx for an antihistamine that she takes now regularly and she has not gotten an ear infection since. The idea is to kept the ear canal dry so it does not develope the infection.

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J.C.

answers from Daytona Beach on

My daughter has ear infections each season change, so I understand your pain. The new school of thought is to wait and see if the ear infection will heal on it's own. I would research all of the antibiotics your son can take if he is sick. If amoxicillian is the only antibiotic offered to your son for illnesses, I'd be careful how often he takes it. He could become immune to the antibiotic. This is probably why the doctor wants to wait. Check around with other doctors meanwhile, to find out if the airplane ride will help or cause irritation to his ears. It makes sense. Why isn't the doctor giving him something to cause draining? Mucinex...or whatever. Then check with the doctor about allergies. This year is going to be hell on us apparently. (I've experienced it twice this year already). Also depending on where you are going, climate changes could make it worse. My daughter got very sick when we went out of the country to a dry climate. Good luck with your son. Jen

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B.H.

answers from Melbourne on

have you tried to use WALLY'S EAR OIL from GNC? it is natural and you only use a very small amount, 1-2 drops in ear as needed. i use it on my kids, the youngest is 2, when i see the first sign of ear problems and 90% of the time, it fixes it.

here is the link. i hope it works.
www.gnc.com/sm-wallys-natural-products-wallys-ear-oil--pi...

if not just go to www.gnc.com and type in wally's ear oil. good luck
B.

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