Hi, guys. My girl has had an ear infection (middle) the last week of the month of the past 3 months! Nov, Dec, and Jan. I think it is because she gets a little congestion, and it doesn't come out! It just backs up into her ears. She gets a fever too, starting out low and once climbed to 103. 3! Scary. She has been of antibiotics for the last 2, but it doesn't seem to be working for long term, and I know how harmful they can be for long term use, and don't want her on them for months. If anyone has any advice, let me know. Thanks.
I'd check with an ENT. If the adenoids are too big, they don't let the ears drain. If the ears don't drain, you get ear infections, and hearing difficulties while the ears are full. I didn't notice where you are, but we have a great one if you're in Denver.
You need to consult an ENT, find out of the reoccurance is due to fluid staying in the ear or viral. They can assess then if tubes would be a benefit, for my son they were the life saver for him and he never has had another and had tubes at 2 years of age. He had fluid that would not drain and caused infection, it wasn't viral. There is a difference. Some may even recommend chiropractic care, which may help but I think an ENT seeing your daughter will be the best first step. You do not want her on antibiotics constantly either and if is fluid it will not help in the long run. 103 may see high but in children it isn't, she is miserable though and they are painful, teething can escualate it too.
Call and get a recommendation for a good ENT, I loved ours he helped both of my kids early on and they are very healthy.
As a pharmacist and herbalist I see this a lot. Need to thin the mucus with nasal saline drops and humidifier. Need to enhance the gut with probiotics and can even boost the immune system with the Herbs for kids line or products or use the Herbasaurs chewable Elderberry tablets and just get through the winter season. Be sure the child is drinking plenty of fluids and adding a good omega fatty acid supplement can sometimes help as well.
L.,
we went through the same thing with my daughter- I would highly advise getting tubes put in her ears. we waited to long with my daughter and she is now immune to most anitbiotics.
The tubes made a night and day difference and we have never had another infection.
Good luck
I have been there, I feel your pain! When my son was a baby/toddler, he had 7 one winter! They actually did put him on a 'maintenance' antibiotic for something like a month. I hated doing that, but kind of didn't know what else to do. When they get an ear infection, it takes a while for the fluid to drain out. If they get another cold while the fluid is still present, they are extremely susceptable. Generally, you have to sit tight until that winter is over and they are less likely to get colds. I can't say whether the maintenance med. was the way to go or not, or if you are better off treating them as they come, but either way I would be really pushing the probiotics to keep her gut as healthy as possible. Of course, anything you can do to keep her from getting another cold for as long as possible is well worth it! My son almost had to have tubes, but drained enough fluid off at last, and eventually his own tubes grew enough that he quit getting them. I made sure over the years that he had plenty of acidophillus. Now, at nearly 16, he is healthy as a horse with no residule effects from this. He rarely gets sick. In fact, out of my 3, he gets sick the least of all of them. I think he's been on antibiotics maybe 3-4 times since then, total! Good luck, I'm sure you'll figure out the best thing for your daughter!
