Ear infection, antibiotic question. Please help.

Leela's cough, cold and flu seems to have led to her first ear-infection. After seeing the ped, we are giving her a 10 day course of antibiotics (amoxycillin). I have a few questions:

1. Leela was pulling on her left ear but the infection was in her right ear (the ped said there was redness there). Have you observed this in your babies (wrong ear pulling)... i am asking this because she is still pulling the wrong ear.
2. When they take the temperature at the peds.. they used the ear-thermometer thing in the left (infected) ear.. could this have caused redness (it was only for a second that they inserted it). The ped inserted another thingy to check for ear-infection after the temperature was taken.. i guess i am just second-guessing my instinct and wondering if she really has an ear-infection.. i just can't stand to see her so weak and i am tired and can't think straight
3. Do the antibiotics make them poop more often. She used to poop once a day but today it was 3 times (the last time being very runny). I am nursing her but should i also give her Pedialyte to increase her fluid intake?

I guess that is it for now.. i just hope this goes away soon... 10 days of antibiotics seems like a lot and I think it is messing her system up.. anyway.. just wanted to hear from those of you who have used antibiotics.. please reassure me that she will get back to normal soon.. i am very scared to see her so weak like this.

[egoldber]

Ah Rashmi, hugs that Leela is so sick!

When Sarah has had ear infections she had never complained and never tugged on her ears at all. So that is not a sure fire sign.

When the ped looks for an ear infection they insert an scope so that they actually look inside the ear. They are looking internally at the inner ear, not the outer ear, in order to diagnose an infection.

Antibiotics can and do often mess with kids digestive tracts. They can cause diarrhea, so increasing nursing is good, as well as offering Pedialyte if she'll take it. My DD HATES pedialyte and will never take it, so I really wouldn't sweat it if she won't take it. Give her lots of yogurt when she is taking the antibiotics, that will help protect the natural flora of her digestive tract which is what gets upset by the antibiotic.

And make sure she takes the antibiotic for the full 10 days. I know its a pain, but that is really, really important!

[JElaineB]

Sorry Leela is sick! DS has had 2 ear infections (both stemming from a cold originally) and never tugged his ears, so I agree with Beth that that is not a sure sign of an ear infection. DS was on Augmentin once and Amoxicillin once. The Augmentin was MUCH worse on his digestive system and poop production. He got a major, major diaper rash so much diarrhea caused by the Augmentin. He got a little diaper rash and a little diarrhea from the Amoxicillin, but it wasn't very bad. Definitely give her yogurt each day, that will help recolonize her digestive tract with good bacteria. She will probably start to feel better very soon (within a couple of days), but as Beth said make sure to finish the entire 10 day course of antibiotics, you don't want the infection to recur or promote antibiotic resistance in the bacteria.

Jennifer
mom to Jacob 9/27/02

Rashmi,

Yes...everything Beth said. You can also get acidophilus (the ingredient in yogurt that helps reestablish healthy intestinal flora) from the health food store and add it to foods like applesauce. I liked having it on hand for the times when Lola wasn't interested in eating yogurt.

And I will just reiterate what Beth has already said about being certain to give Leela the full course of antibiotics. Not doing so can create an antibiotic resistant bacteria and an infection that's all the more difficult to get rid of.

I hope health and sleep return to your home soon. Having a sick little one is rough.

[tarahsolazy]

Nothing to add, Beth, Sara, and Jen are right on with the advice. But big hugs to you and Leela, I hope she feels better soon. The loose stools may persist the whole time she's on the Amoxicillan, even after she feels better, just to warn you. Any and all fluids are great, and the acidophilus idea is also great. By nursing, you are giving her antibodies to her cold virus, which you've been exposed to, even if you didn't get sick. Great job Rashmi! Hang in there. I am dreading our first illness here, I'm sure I'll be a basket case!

[rrosen]

Hugs Mama! I am sorry that Leela is feeling so weak. It is awful when our little ones feel sick.
Gabrielle was on Amoxycillin just two weeks ago for a double ear infection. I would have never known she had an ear infection had we not gone to the Dr. for a well visit. Talk about feeling like a bad mommy! We tried to give the infection a chance to clear up with out antibiotics at the Drs. suggestion but, three days later Gabrielle got a fever and stopped sleeping. Then I knew she was sick.
Her stomach was messed up the entire time she was on the antibiotic. To be honest, it was a LONG ten days! My ped. made many of the same recommendations that previous posters have, yogurt, lots of fluids, you can do a BRAT diet too (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) My dr. also recommended blueberries, but you may remember that did not end well for my DD's bottom or cloth diapers!
I recommend using a diaper cream at each changing to prevent a rash. Gabrielle got a doozy!
If you feel that Leela still seems weak and sick on Monday, I would call your Dr. again. Maybe a different antibiotic would agree with her more.

I hope you are all doing better soon!

Rashmi-so sorry that Leela is feeling yucky. Big hugs from our house to yours.
Jack is a pro on ear infections. I agree with all that Beth had to offer. and the other posters. It usually takes 48 hours for the antibiotics to reach a high enough level that she starts feeling better. In the meantime, motrin every 8 hours usually helps alot.
Take care.

[deborah_r]

No ear infection experience here, but I am so sorry Leela is sick! Poor her, and poor you! I hope it is over soon! No fun to be sick in the summer.

Kai was tugging on his ear at one point and we asked the ped, and she said he appeared to just be tugging on his ear for the sake of it. Or that it could have been his molars starting to come in. And he does have a molar now, so that may have been it.

Thanks for all your input. I gave Leela an extra helping of yogurt for dinner.. and will definitely be finishing the 10 day course of antibiotics. I hope she does feel better soon, it is very hard to see her so tired and weak.. and these days she is trying to let go and take a few steps and she is getting frustrated because even standing up is an effort. sigh.

Thanks again.

Rashmi

Kyleigh sends lots of hugs to Leela and we hope she is feeling better really soon.

As far as the ear pulling goes, our Ped says that babies have a hard time localizing their pain and often pull on their ears when something is bothering them (ie - teething, sore throat). So she may feel the pain, but is just pulling on the wrong ear. Hopefully, she won't develop a double ear infection.

Hang in there and if you need anything, let me know.

Lisa
Mom to Kyleigh 7/19/03