Seeking Some Answers About Ear Infections.

Updated on October 09, 2006
N.F. asks from Killeen, TX
20 answers

Hi, my name is N.. I have an almost 10 mth old son, whom after diner, started running a low fever and got pretty cranky. He felt fine all day until after diner. He is getting over another cold, and I was always told that ear infections were a common factor with colds. I am asking for some signs of ear infections? I gave him 1 tsp of ibrophren and some gas medicine about 30 mins ago. He has been "messing" with his ears lately, but I think that he just discovered that they were there. Any information would be helpful. Thanks alot, N.

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So What Happened?

Well, after I fought with him being cranky and him making me hold him all the time, his fever broke Sunday night around 12:30 am and he felt alittle bit better and stayed up to play some. At around 2:30 am we both finally got to go to sleep, him in the bed with me of course, and when he woke up Monday morning he was on Fire! I woke because it felt like someone was burning me. I gave him some Ibophren and waited for about 3 hours before I decided to take him to daycare. He fever didn't come back so I decided to take him to daycare. We got there and I signed him in and handed him to the teacher and I went to go and give him kisses to say bye and that is when I saw alot of nasty looking green stuff coming out of his ear. I didn't leave him there of course. We left and I called the doc and I couldn't get him in till Wednesday. The doc did let me come by so that she could get the BIG green thing out of his ear. I was to scared to do it. I didn't want to make it worse. I have never seen an ear infection before. Although I found out today by my mother that I have them (her words)"All the damn time". I feel bad for my son because he just got over the cold that was going around. But atleast I know that he is building a good immune system!!
Well, thanks everyone. You all have been a good help.
N. and Zachary

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N.G.

answers from Baton Rouge on

My 4 year old is on his 3rd set of tubes. I suggest you call the ENT because left untreated and EI can cause major damage to the ear and hearing.

Good luck!

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N.

answers from San Antonio on

My son got tubes when he was 6months and didn't get sick after that now about 1 month ago we got his tubes taken out due to out growing them he has been sick 3 times. He is going to get another set put in

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M.N.

answers from Little Rock on

pink half-rings under the eyes, and - or not sleeping through the night

1 mom found this helpful
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T.I.

answers from San Antonio on

Hi,
I just wanted to put in my 2 cents... I have been very blessed in that neither one of my kids has ever had an ear infection. The first time my daughter ran a high temp (103) she would pull her ears and also had an inflamed (red) throat. The dr put her on antibiotics while he sent a urine sample to be tested because while her ears looked irritated they didn't seem infected. He thought better safe then sorry. Well, long story short.. the labs came back and everything was fine even her ears. She was teething! After that experience we knew what to look for and she always did the same thing; high fever, ear pulling, etc. Of course my son would cut teeth and never show any signs. Good luck!

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C.C.

answers from Shreveport on

HI,
If he is tugging at his ears more than usual-you need to have the doctor check him out. Make sure he is not teething for that will also start a low grade fever and being fussy.

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C.A.

answers from New Orleans on

N., My daughter had ear infections since she was 5 weeks old. She had about 11 in one year. He sounds like he may have one. I would definitely take him to his doctor. It won't hurt and then you will have piece of mind!! Good Luck!! and he will be fine.

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C.W.

answers from Denver on

If he is running a fever and tugging at his ears or his ears are red you can bet he has an ear infection. Definatly check with your physican first thing tomorrow to make sure. T-Tree oil is great for Ear infections. You DO NOT apply it into the ear you apply it on the outer part of the ear. You may want to check with your physician. Most will try to give you an antibiotic when you mention a natural remedy. You can check with a health food stores for more information. You're welcome to visit my blog too, I have great information on creating a healthier home. http://healthyhouse4u.blogspot.com/
Blessings, C.

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V.C.

answers from Beaumont on

It wouldn't hurt to take your son to the Dr. before things can get worse, and trust me a mom of an 8 year who has had ear infections before they will cause major pain during the middle of the night and that's not a good time for anybody. So my recommendation would be if you haven't already taken him to the Dr. then I would do it ASAP.
V. C.

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A.L.

answers from Houston on

Hi N., A. here. We have a 3 1/2 year-old who started getting ear infections at about 12 months. Although sometimes he would tug at his ears, usually we had no sign at all that he had an infection until the fever started. He had ear infections almost constantly for about 7 months. Eventually he got tubes & he never had another.

As for your "weird worries" I think we are all plagued with them at first! I once rushed my son in because I felt a lump in the back of his neck. Turns out it was just a gland and the pediatrician was surprised I'd even felt it.

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A.P.

answers from Shreveport on

I have a super happy baby and people look at me like I'm crazy when he's sick because he's not screaming his head off, he's just cranky. My son has had 2 ear infections and he tugged on his ear a few times, but he still does that not infected. He had some teething congestion, which the ped thinks contributed. Both times, he would start to cry everytime we layed him down. He was worse at night. During the day, He would shake his head in a "no-no" motion, most often when he took his bottle. Monitor his fever and call his pediatrician in the morning. At the doctor's suggestion, I have also found that sitting him more upright when he takes his bottle has helped.

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D.B.

answers from Houston on

Lots of ear infections - and drippy noses come from drinking milk. Doctors say drink milk, but it makes mucus and then clogs the ears and get infected. If it is an infection, try putting garlic oil, or another herbal drop from the health food store. DONT let them pput him on antibiotics - it ruins their immune system and starts a cycle that never ends. Give him Kyolic oil internally as well. It stinks but it works! Been thru this many times with both children. did the antibiotic route many times and it always came back - stopped the dairy - and they went away. Check into it for yourself.
But don't take what the docs tell you as gospel. Check out all the alternatives.

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L.A.

answers from Fayetteville on

I have a three-year-old boy who got a few ear infections during his first year. It was tricky because he never pulled at his ears or acted as if they were bothering him. My doctor told me with an ear infection, you will always see a spike in temperature. If that is not there and the temperature is a low grade, the illness is probably a virus. Good luck.

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A.V.

answers from Beaumont on

If he is tugging at his ear then he probably has a ear infection. Also if you feel his ear and it is hot and possibly red then he might have one. Just get it checked out if you think he has one.

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C.A.

answers from Houston on

My Ear Nose and Throat firmly believes in this remedy. Take a small dropper bottle and put equal parts of vinegar (plain, white), alcohol 70% and water in it, you can get them from a pharmacy for about a buck. In an emergency you can mix a cap of each liquid into a small bowl and pour it in but is more convenient in the bottle and I keep it mixed up in my fridge. I have done this for so long that I know that Jan 1 and July 4 I make a new bottle after rinsing out the old.

Lay baby on your lap so his ear faces you. Put a few drops into the canal and rub the little bump in front of the ear (called the tragus). It will take the sting out of the pain. Let it sit and rub the tragus. My daughter would actually go to sleep while doing this after screaming in pain. After a few minutes, turn baby over and do the other ear. The fluid will drain out and dry naturally, just don't let it run down into their little mouths cause it tastes yukky(voice of experience). It is great for after swimming as well. It really gets warm while in the ear canal. You can do this as many times a day as he seems uncomfortable. My son is 9 and he has never been on antibiotics for ear infections. After my daughter spent several rounds of antibiotics and they were unable to clear a massive infection, we took her off all RX's, used this and after 10 days it was gone. As a nurse, I know what the eardrum looks like in the presence of infection and both her ears looked so bad I thought we were going to have to do tubes. I observed them daily clear up more and more and I put her on regular rinses after baths, swimming and anytime she had any inkling of a problem. She never had another ear infection and by the age of seeing the specialist at 5 she had been on 18 scripts for antibiotics. My son, now age 9 has NEVER had an infection and neither has my granddaughter, age 4.
Adults can also use this in a stronger portion of half vinegar/half alcohol. When you first do it, make sure you are sitting down because you kind of feel dizzy like you would if you poured any liquid into your ear canal because this offsets your equalibrium. It is amazing how easy this is and how good it works.

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M.M.

answers from Killeen on

My son is now 3 1/2 and used to ALWAYS get ear infections. When he was 5 weeks old I went back to work and at 5 mo old I ended up having to put him in daycare. He immediately started getting sick and staying sick and I thought it was because he was in daycare and around all the other children. I constantly took him to the dr and was always getting called at work to come pick him up because of fever (and that's hard when your a single mom). I found out from the ped that he was having chronic ear infections so I asked about tubes. Now if this is the one and only ear infection your son gets I wouldn't do the tubes but if he continues to get them I would definitely suggest talking to your ped about getting tubes. Mason is my first child and I was really scared about the procedure because it is considered surgery and he was so young (9 mo) but it was so simple and completely cut all of his illness out. His constant conjestion, fever, crankyness, etc was all from the ear infections and the tubes took care of that. The right tube fell out about 4 mo after the procedure and the left one came out about 6-8 mo later. He is now 3 1/2 and has never had another ear infection and is rarely sick (which is a HUGE blessing)!!!

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J.G.

answers from Austin on

HI, N. my name is J. i went thought something similure to what you are going throw. My 2 year old son had the same problem the things i noticed the most where him pulling at his ears, not responding to me as well as he should have been, couldnt prononce word correctlly. So i finnally went to the doctore after like the 10 ear infection. The doctore said my son needed tubs in his ears, since he has had the tubs he talks alot better now, he runs & walks better now, but the best thing is that he dosent really get sick anymore. Maybe a cold here and ther but nothing like it use to be. I think that if your doctor does not suggest tubs you should ask beacuse i think they helped my son so much.

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K.M.

answers from Dallas on

I would just call the dr in the morning and make him an appointment. You cant be too careful. My son got his 1st ear infrection about 9 months. He had a cold too, and only got a low grade fever with it. The dr will know what to do.
Good luck,
K.

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J.A.

answers from San Antonio on

I think he has an ear infection and you should take him to the doctor, especially since fever normally accompanies ear infections, but not always. It isn't something to ignore. I am dealing with the same situation with my 8 year old. One thing most moms don't know is this: having baby around any smoking or having the baby rest on a smoker who isn't smoking but has nicotine in his clothing will cause a lot of ear infections. I was told this by a pediatrician. Your worries around weird. You are just a great mom!

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L.F.

answers from Brownsville on

Hi N.. I hope your baby is feeling better. It is so hard when they are so young and are not able to verbally communicate to you what it is that they feel. This is why it is so important to look for physical communication. This is what I learned about ear infections when my children were small. An ear infection may also accompany a cough, nasal congestion, fever,irritability and lots of crying due to the pain. The way could tell it was a definate ear infection was because the ear in question was more red than the other AND the boys kept nudging on the ear that was causing them pain. I hope this helps! L.

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V.B.

answers from Killeen on

My 3 yr old daughter has had chronic ear infections on and off her whole life. Some signs and symptoms of an ear infection that I have to come to recognize are:

-constant low grade fever or alternating high fever one day, none the next, high fever, none, etc....
-picking or rubbing at ears or jaw
-mild lethargy
-general irritability that cannot be soothed
-discomfort/fussines when eating or drinking
-waking up at night fussy; inability to sleep
-chewing on things (my daughter did this when she was younger, working the jaw sometimes seems to ease ear infection discomfort and pressure for her)

Hope these help! Oh and if your son has more than a few ear infections a year, consider seeing an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist for ventiliation tubes. It's a simple outpatient surgical procedure that takes about 30 minutes. My daughter has the tubes and hasn't had one ear infection since they were put in! What a blessing!!

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