Ear infection options

[Snow mom]

The longer back story is below, but I'm wondering what options, especially non-medical options, are available for ear infections.

About a week before Thanksgiving I brought DD into the doctor for high fever and some vomiting. While we were there they dx a mild ear infection (which wasn't ultimately behind either the fever or vomiting.) They gave her amoxicillin for the ear infection but it didn't go away. At her year check (about 3 weeks later) it looked much worse. The pedi prescribed a stronger antibiotic (cefdinir.) I asked her about the possibility that it was a viral infection since it hadn't gone away with the initial antibiotics and she felt it was almost surely a resistant bacterial infection because it had not gone away and had gotten worse over that time period. It turns out the cefdinir made DD feel horrible and I didn't think it was worth it. (Side note: An important mommy lesson learned: never feed a baby who has already vomited something that is going to stain when she does it again.) Although I know you are supposed to finish anitbiotics, we stopped it after 4 of the 10 doses. Now I'm wondering what our options are. I'm not really excited about starting a third antibiotic, especially with DD still recovering from the bad effects of the last one. This is only the second ear infection she's had so I don't know much about ear infections and how they progress. Any advice from those who have dealt with ear infections in their LOs?

[jerigirl]

I could have written this post EXACTLY. 2 weeks ago, DS was complaining of ear pain. Toook him in and dr prescribed Amoxicillin. 4 days later, when I picked him up from preschool he was lethargic and feverish 101.7. I called the dr and he suspected that his ear was worse and switched to Cefdinir. Later that night, DS started vomiting. I took DS in to the dr the next morning and it was confirmed that his ear was worse and that he must have gotten a tummy bug on top of that. We started the Cefdinir the next day. After 1 dose of that, DS woke up with a rash and swollen face. (Allergic!) Soooo we switched to Zithromax/azithromycin. We finally finished the 5 days of that and the rash from the Cefdinir is gone. What a week!

So no real suggestion from me, but I can definitely sympathize!

[khalloc]

If you dont want to do antibiotics, I think the only alternative is nothing and seeing if it goes away on its own. But that might make your child completely miserable. I choose antibiotics any day.

[Jen841]

I know you said non-medicine but maybe have it cultured. J had an infection that would not go away a lot of the summer (months!) His CHOP ENT had it cultured and it was MRSA and a fungal infection. Purely nasty! The good thing is they put him on the right drug to fight it and one course of Rx cleared up both ears.

Note, there are drops you can use also for infections. The fungal (VERY ITCHY) was a drop thing and the MRSA was oral + drop (actually an eye drop.)

We are a bit unique, we are regulars at the ENT for J's tumor (Gone now) but his ear is still 'under construction' so we are there a lot.

I understand not wanting drugs, but also you don't want scar tissue. We are dealing with scar tissue now, a lot was removed surgically on 12/2. I know we are unique, but I would want to do what I could to go it cleared.

If the Ped is your 100% source of diagnosis maybe go to an ENT?

[Tondi G]

you could try the natural way... Whole Foods sells garlic and mullen oil that you can drop in your kiddos ears. A lot of people sware by it. I would rather try that then leave the infection to fester if the limited time on antibiotics didn't kick it.

I had a lot of EI's as a child and ended up with tubes in the end. All the scar tissue and infections left me with a bone having disintigrated in my ear.... I have been really careful with my boys (they both have had their fair share of EI's).

Good Luck

[SnuggleBuggles]

Chiropractors are supposed to have some trick that can help.

Beth

[Snow mom]

Thanks for the responses. I was mainly looking for something that wasn't antibiotics because it seems the doctor handles the antibiotic side and I handle any non-medical options. It sounds like antibiotics are the main game in town though. The good news is I ended up bringing DD in for an ear recheck expecting another prescription and her ears looked much better with just the four days of antibiotics. The pedi did write me another rx just in case but unless she runs a fever in the next 48 hours we're not going to treat it further. She'll get her ears rechecked again in 3 weeks.

[BelleoftheBallFlagstaff]

I LOVE Colloidal Silver for ear infections a drop or two in the ear, a few times per day has helped us.

[kerridean]

Audiologist here, so is DH: PLEASE do not go to a chiropractor. Or buy oils. Waste of time and money. Sorry. There is no research to support these treatments. Your options are to continue as directed by your medical doctor. Tubes may be recommended after a certain number of infections. Tubes are very successful for most children.

Tip:
1. NO pacifiers..get rid of them 100%. They contribute to ear infections.
2. No sippy cups with a suction valve. Open top cups or straw cups are better.
3. No smoking around child. Even second hand smoke contributes.
4. Did not check age of child...but continue to nurse if you are doing so now.

Please make sure the child receives a hearing evaluation at some point by an audiologist.

[m448]

Audiologist here, so is DH: PLEASE do not go to a chiropractor. Or buy oils. Waste of time and money. Sorry. There is no research to support these treatments. Your options are to continue as directed by your medical doctor. Tubes may be recommended after a certain number of infections. Tubes are very successful for most children.

Tip:
1. NO pacifiers..get rid of them 100%. They contribute to ear infections.
2. No sippy cups with a suction valve. Open top cups or straw cups are better.
3. No smoking around child. Even second hand smoke contributes.
4. Did not check age of child...but continue to nurse if you are doing so now.

Please make sure the child receives a hearing evaluation at some point by an audiologist.

I'm curious for your reasons on no oils. My kids aren't prone to ear infections but my husband has had one as an adult and the garlic mullein oil helped him tremendously. I understand there being no research to support a specific natural treatment (which is mostly to no interest in $$$) but the antimicrobial properties of garlic are well known.

[neeleymartin]

I'm curious for your reasons on no oils. My kids aren't prone to ear infections but my husband has had one as an adult and the garlic mullein oil helped him tremendously. I understand there being no research to support a specific natural treatment (which is mostly to no interest in $$$) but the antimicrobial properties of garlic are well known.

our local natural food store told us the same thing. she (owner of a small local and very reputable chain) told us that the garlic oil is much to harsh for a little one. hth

[kerridean]

I'm curious for your reasons on no oils. My kids aren't prone to ear infections but my husband has had one as an adult and the garlic mullein oil helped him tremendously. I understand there being no research to support a specific natural treatment (which is mostly to no interest in $$$) but the antimicrobial properties of garlic are well known.

Because the infection and fluid build-up occurs BEHIND the ear drum. Oils dropped into the ear do not go past the barrier of the eardrum, unless you happen to have a huge, gaping hole in your eardrum (very unlikely and you would know if you did). Basically the oil will just drain back out of the ear....therefore not interacting with the bacterial or fluid.

This is why "tubes" are so effective. The surgeon places a tube, or hole in the eardrum to drain the fluid, thereby decreasing the chance for infections to occur.

When doctors prescribe drops for kids, that is just to take away some of the pain on the eardrum. It is like aspirin for the eardrum. It does not cross the barrier of the eardrum. It does not help the infection.

[ThreeofUs]

OP, hope all is going well. I'd talk to my doc about the different issues that could be going on in your DC's ear, and see what you could do to investigate and/or try different options.



Your options are to continue as directed by your medical doctor.

While I agree with much of your post, I do think it's a mistake to tell parents there's only one option. A second opinion, a culture, a visit to a specialist are all options - and fully supported by both medical establishment and the literature. In cases like this, there is a range of dx (some of which have been posted previously) that could be investigated.

[m448]

I agree with Ivy, as the parent you have options. I remember reading somewhere about a Swiss study showing that immediate treatment with abx actually increased the likelihood of infection reoccuring.

Also, Kerridean - mullein oil is a natural anti-inflammatory as well as offering mild pain relief for the ache. Both of those along with topically applied heat near the base of the ear are wonderful for managing the pain while a child's body fight off what may in all liklihood be a viral vs. bacterial infection.