Son Wont Take Antibiotics

Updated on January 02, 2008
D.V. asks from Long Beach, CA
14 answers

my 3 year old will not take antibiotics for ear infection. we have tried different flavors, but he can taste it in everything I have given him!!!!HELP

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D.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

My daughter wouldn't take antibiotics either so the pediatrician would have to give her an injection of antibiotics which was very painful to give but eliminated having to give antibiotics two or three times a day!

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A.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

Wow, i am so shocked at some of the responses you got, i read all of them, and i was shocked at a few of them. But i will just give you my advice and you can use your own best judgement after that. I have 3 children, all have been through this and still going through it. The best way i have learned is the syringe, in the corner of the mouth a little at a time so he or she doesnt spit it all out. If you have to hold them down then do it, if you have someone to help you then have someonelse help you too, i do believe in alternative medicine, i myself am a Monavie Distributor, but i dont take chances with my children, if the doctor prescribes something then hes doing it for a reason, and i dont think that the lady that said her friends daughter died, died from an antiboiotic, im sure it was something else. Well good luck, i hope you find the answer you are looking for.
A.!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.E.

answers from Los Angeles on

Maybe he knows something we don't. Some natural antibiotics might work better for him anyways. Try Larix powder, and garlic mullein ear oil. Also, xylitol is supposed to be really good for chronic ear infections.

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B.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

I agree with the holistic approach. We tend to think that kids are "just being fussy" but truthfully they know better than adults what should and should not go into the body. Trust your child. He doens't like the taste because his body doesn't want the medicine. There are other possibilities as to the cause and treatment of ear infections. Just because your "doctor" says it's so, doesn't really make it so.

B.
www.HeyYouGetReal.com

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I.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Lets see this is an age 'ole' problem, usually you can hide in applesauce or gogurt-a strong flavor, but I worked in the medical field when I went back to work at Amber's age of three and I used a syringe (you can get one from your pharmist) WITHOUT the needle- come on girls now,now don't think like that. usually its 3ml or 5ml and you can draw it up into the body and then ask him if he wants to taste, mmmmh, since it looks different then anything he's really seen and my daughter would let me just push it in the corner of her cheek & she swallowed & with other flavors she wouldn't and I would have to hold her between my knees on the bed & that got to be a big game finally, but she took it & sometimes I would just hand it to her when she figured out how to push the plunger herself and let her give it to herself, cuz she was a "BIG" girl and other times she would just suck on it until it was gone.....you can try a strong juice or a smoothee and mix it in....Good Luck I.

Please, please think twice before NOT giving him his meds, it can & will lead to constant earaches & deafness, getting your child adjusted at such young age is definately a personal choice that must be thought out carefully. I had to write after seeing the responses.

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A.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

My daughter had ear infections for 6 months straight (I'm surprised we lived). She got so savvy with the medicine we had to find new ways to get it down her. The best tactic for us was mixing it in her yogurt. The flavors masked the medicine taste and a little extra yeast prevention is always good.

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A.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hello D.;

What about putting in his favorite drinks or chocolate milk. Or even bribe him with something he would like to have. It is an idea. I hope it works.

A.

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S.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son was the same! At a very young age, it might have even been 3, we asked his doctor for pill form for everything. He was motivated to learn how to swallow a pill because the flavor of those children antibiotic were so heinous to him. Ask your doctor. You can even cut them in half to make it easier to swallow. In fact due to his weight, you may have to anyway. Best of luck.

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D.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

i go through the same thing. Try omnicef if your doctor will prescribe it. it tastes like strawberry and the kids seem to really like it. if that will ot work ask your doctor to give him a shot because if you leave an ear infection untreated it can lead to hearing loss. Best to you

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E.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

D.,

My advice to you is to not mix it into anything. Be upfront and tell him that this is important medicine that will help get rid of the pain in his ear. I also used a syringe (with out the needle) given to me by my doctor. Your son has a choice of either he can suck it down or mommy will need to give it to him. Be very matter of fact and let him think about it for a few moments. If he won't take it, put him in your lap with one of your arms craddling his head. I would wrap my arm around his head and forehead to secure his head and carefully slide the syringe into his cheek to the back. I would empty the syringe with a rate that is not too slow(you don't want it to take too long.) and not too fast(you don't want it to come out) I would pause and push on his cheek to make sure that it went down. I would then have a treat or sticker to give to him if he behaved well.

Giving it by way of the cheek circumvents the taste buds on the tongue and seems to make it a bit easier.

Hope it helps,

Evelyn

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A.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Take a holistic approach. Start with a visit to a chiropractor. An adjustment will clear any blockages and the body will work in harmony from head to toe. Go to a health food store and look for Hyland's Earache homeopathic remedy. It is all natural and safe at any age. It is a quick disolving sugar tablet. Kids usually like the taste and you just pop it in their mouth.

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J.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi D.,

As an Alternative Health Practitioner, I am against antibiotics except under special circumstances. Your son intuitively knows they are not good for his body. That is why, I feel, he is rejecting them. There are natural things you can give him for his ear infection that will not cause digestive disturbances and will not break down the immune system.

Not to scare you, but a good friend's 3-year old daughter had a slight ear infection that would not clear up. She did use an antibiotic even though she didn't use them normally and her daughter died of anafalactic shock.

I can recommend some things for him if you like.

J. Sanders
Alternative Health Practitioner
kaysnutrition.com

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E.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

I didn't like the pink stuff either and figured that my daughter wouldn't either, so I asked doctor if he could prescribe a pill form. He asked if she could take a pill. I said yes, knowing that I knew I could get her to swallow a pill more easily than squirting daily. Sure enough, it worked. Also, if I ever needed to give her pain medication, I gave her Advil, because it is coated with a hard sugar shell, goes down like a charm. She takes it without any fuss. Hope this helps.

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B.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I don't know if this will help or not, but it may be something you can try. (My kids were good with antibiotics, it was other medicines that we had issues with.) We kept a supply of "Nerds" on hand, and when my daughter needed to take medicine she didn't like, we gave her two medicine cups, one with her medication, and one with a "shot" of Nerds to chase it with. You might also try ice beforehand to deaden his taste buds.

Good luck!
B.

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