Ent-how Long Did You Battle Swollen Tonsils and Ear Infections Before You Went?

Both of my children have had tubes put in (we lived in different states for each of them), but both ENT's said they recommend them after 4 ear infections in 6 months or 6 infections in 12 months.

You may get some push back at this time of the year to NOT get tubes because we are leaving cold/flu season. My son had his tubes installed in March when he was 10 months old (he had hearing loss due to ear infections and so it was really required for him). My daughter had hers put in in December at 12 months (she started daycare at 8 months and had 1 ear infection a month until the 4th one when she got the tubes).

-L.

Go see the ENT you can always opt out of the surgical procedure if one is recommended

It sounds like your Pediatrician is following the guidelines of both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Otolaryngology (Ear Nose Throat specialist).

Ear infection #1: amoxicillin
Ear infection #2: Augmentin
Ear infection #3: Omnicef
Ear infection #4: ENT

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/cond...
http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Ear-Tubes.cfm

Our daughter had 3 ear infections last winter - she was sent to the ENT after the 4th and got tubes. She's had her 3rd infection this year because one tube has fallen out and one is lodged in the canal. The pediatricians are hoping not to have to send her to the ENT again, but we'd do it if needed.

The risks of chronic ear infections can often outweigh the risks of getting tubes. We have several friends whose children have gotten tubes since our daughter - all were up and playing like nothing had happened within a few hours. The key: find a good ENT who deals with pediatric patients.

Good luck!

My daughter suffered nonstop ear infections when she started daycare at age 2. Seriously one after the other. Our pediatrician sent us to the ENT and he said she was suffering from ear infections due to her adenoids and naturally enlarged tonsils. So, he recommended we remove them both. We did the surgery the month she turned 3yrs old. She is now 6 and has never had another ear infection. It was amazing. The best thing we ever did. My son came along and started the ear infection battle right off the bat. He also has naturally enlarged tonsils, however, our ENT (same one as my daughter's) recommended we remove his adenoids and place tubes. We did that at 10mths old. Went great and it was smooth sailing for about 5 months and then he got another infection, We went back to the ENT and come to find out, his tubes had already fallen out due to a growth spurt! So, we placed a second set of "long term" tubes. He is now about to turn 4yrs old and we have never had another ear infection! So..with one of my kids it was tonsils and adenoids and with the other it was adenoids and tubes. So, the ENT will know what they're talking about. Take their advice. They are experts. You will all be so much better off! =0) Also, another thing to think about...........your little man is 4yrs old, so he'll be starting school soon. You definitely want to have him all better so that he doesn't have to rack up all those absences when they count against his permanent school record. My opinion is to most definitely see the ENT. You will live a happy life amoxicillin, augmentin, and omnicef free!!! =0)

K.,

I would go sooner than later. History has a habit of repeating itself ! And he has double the chance of issues if you and your husband have allergies. I'd also consider getting him tested for allergens. He may need tubes in his ears. This problem can have some of the same symtoms as other issues..
Better to know than not know. And your child will feel much better in the end. Trust the ENT to do the right thing ! Good Luck, C. S.

Our daughter had many bouts of tonsilitis -- even "kissing" tonsils that almost closed off her airway. We had been with our pediatric allergist and went to a conservative ENT who acted as soon as he was sure she needed surgery -- at age 7. She had the largest adenoids he'd ever seen. Removing them actually changed the way she talked! She was much healthier afterwards.

I would take him to ENT and see what they recomend. My son (6) just had his tonsils removed 12 days ago.

They have to meet certain criteria before they can take out yoru sons tonisls or adnoids.
Snoring, Apneia, SInus Infections/ear infecctions, Throat issues

Have you considered a chiropractor? I've heard very good things about chiropractic care helping with chronic ear infections, although luckily I have not had to go that route with my kids.

J

nothing worked except taking tonsils and adenoids out. i recommend doing that with your child. i do not, however, recommend ear tubes. if you can, avoid those as much as you can. tonsils and adenoids out should reduce the number of colds (and ear infections) quite a bit, not entirely, but substantially. ear tubes are great, unless you become one of that 9 per cent with major complications. that happened to us, and i have cursed ear tubes ever since. good luck

My son was in the same boat with ear infections! It seemed as though we were in the doctor's at least once a month (if not more) with double ear infections. He finally had tubes put in his ears and it was the best thing we could have done for him!!! He has not had an ear infection since! It's been almost 2 years now. We are so happy we did it.

Well, I tried to avoid that....and with the help of a different pediatrician I learned that 95% of ear infections are due to a food intolerance. We tested my girls and removed the foods that showed to be issues. After four months of avoiding those foods we started adding them back in one at a time. This has been amazing for my children. They are both so much more healthier. It was the toughest thing I have ever done (not a betty crocker here) but I grew a lot and the girls do not have ear infections anymore. The only food we have not added back successfully for my youngest is cheese....she will still get an ear infection which was the culprit in the first place. It has been two years so we are going to try cheese again and see what happens. The benefits of doing this were well beyond the ear infections: clarity in speech, clearer cognition, awesome immune systems (instead of the monthly virus she always got).

I ONLY recommend Immuno Laboratories due to the accuracy of their results; not the cheapest, but the results can be trusted. Seen many people use various labs and end up with issues still. I have personally seen this work for 10 or so people, not all with ear issues, most are for GI issues.

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in more info......don't want to bog down your responses if you are not interested in this route verses surgery.

I had my tonsils/adenoids out when I was 5 yrs old. My son has his out when he just turned 4 yrs old. He did not have an infection, but his tonsils had swelled up to the point they were almost touching each other at the back of his mouth. They looked like two huge fleshy marbles back there. We went to an ENT, and we tried steroids to shrink them, and it worked until he was off the steroids and they ballooned right back up again. He snored badly when he slept, and had trouble swallowing and eating. We had them out in the hospital and we brought him home the same day. He healed up quickly. We were so glad we got that over with. From discovery of his huge tonsils to removal was about 2 months.

I had my tonsils and adnoids out when I was 18 months old. 4 sets of tubes and biweekly visits to the ENT. I was a rare case that if tonsils and adnoids did not come out I could have a perm hearing loss. I would recommend going to an ENT and I would do it at a younger age since they bounce back quicker!

We waited until our son who was 10 mo. had 6 ear infections in 5 months and the antibiotics weren't working anymore. I would wait until after "cold season" is over to see if he gets better. If it does keep going on you should definatley see the ENT. My son is much happier ever since he got tubes. Good luck with everything :).