?? Ear infections and contagiousness and ? about antibiotics??

[JustMe]

Dd has an ear infection. We went the the dr and, of course, antibiotics were prescribed.

Here are my questions. How contagious is an ear infection? I am wondering if she can go to school tomorrow. She is not in pain.

What about ear infections and antibiotics? Dd's first ear infection was 3 months ago, 2 months before her 4th birthday. She never had one before. I did give her antibiotics, but I am wondering if others forego antibiotics for ear infections ever. I already gave her one dose, so I think I need to finish it out this time?

Finally, is there a good amount of time after or before antibiotics to give a dose of probiotics? Last time dd ended up with her 1st yeast infection because I didnt know I could give probiotics while she was still on the antibiotics.

Thanks a lot!

Robyn
single mommy to a 4 yr old from Guatemala

[bunnisa]

Have you tried Garlic oil or Garlic & Mullein Oil instead of the antibiotics? It works very well, with no side effects. You can make it yourself if you'd rather not buy it.

...blessed wife and mama to two & one due this summer!

"And children are always a good thing, devoutly to be wished for and fiercely to be fought for."
-Justin Torres

[lilycat88]

Ear infections themselves aren't infectious. If there was a virus or a respiratory bacterial infection, that could be contagious. DD had 18ish ear infections and we never kept her from daycare/preschool based on the ear infection. If there was a fever or pain, we kept her home if she was miserable. Usually, the virus preceeding the ear infection was long gone before the ear flared up.

We always gave DD probiotics at the same time she took her antibiotic when she first started getting them. Then, we just kept her on a probiotic all the time.

[C99]

Ear infections are not contagious. Usually a cold or something caused fluid to back up into the ear and while colds are contagious, I've always been told that an ear infection tends to happen on the tail end of a cold.

Since you've already started the abx course, I would finish it because not finishing it is worse than taking them.

My kids have not experienced a lot of diagnosed ear infections. I would rather treat with Tylenol for pain, but if the infection is bad enough that my kids are not sleeping, complaining of pain and/or running a fever, I will take them in and if the doc prescribes abx, I fill the 'script and give them.

[JustMe]

Thanks everyone. Tell me about the garlic oil. What do I look for if I want to buy it, how would I make it myself, and how much would I give her and how would I give it to her? (This would all be for another time. I wont stop the antibiotics, now that i already started).

thanks,
Robyn

[nfowife]

The probiotics I give to my DC's say to wait an hour before or after giving an antibiotic.
Ear infections aren't contagious.

[Wife_and_mommy]

Wanted to share some great info another bbber gave us recently re: antibi's.

Hope it helps and your dd is well soon. :)

http://tinyurl.com/yoyrt6



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I love them most when they are sleeping.--Me
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[JustMe]

Thanks everyone,

Your responses were all very helpful.

Robyn
single mommy to a 4 yr old from Guatemala