Chronic ear infections in a baby

[countrylover]

Has anyone any experience of this?

My DS2 is now 11 months and has just been diagnosed with his SIXTH ear infection. Finally the GP has agreed that he needs to see an ENT specialist as we have spent the best part of the winter looking after a very poorly baby.

What is the ENT paediatrician likely to recommend?

[CharlieBoo]

Hi, my ds had a terrible time with ear infections when he was a baby and we were one infectionaway frombeing referred when they just stopped. So much of it was teething to be honest and some children are just prone to them. It is probably something hecwill grow out of. Not sure what ent will say, I hope someone else comes along to give advice on that. Is there goo coming out? Does gp give anti biotics each time? My ds used to see a paed about urine infecs and asked why so many anti bs for ears n he said unless goo coming out if ear give it few days and they clear up on their own. Easy for them to say tho with a baby in such pain. Hopeyou get some answers x

[addictedtolatte]

my ds always get ear infections during a virus he has picked up. the gp says this is quite normal in some babies. good luck with ENT

[thelittlebluepills]

we had this with DS1 - GP said nothing needed doing - I insisted on ENT referral who immediately scheduled grommit operation when DS1 was 10 months old

despite the slight scary thing of baby having an op he was immediately so much better - we hadn't realised how little he could hear. although the infections didn't totally stop they greatly reduced in frequency. he has had one further grommet operation since

I concluded that one minor op was much better than several doses of antibiotics - which didn't work anyway

things to reduce ear infection likelihood: don't let baby drink formula milk lying down - the milk can irritate the eustachian tube - we eventually figured out that this was a contributory factor for DS1 (although we have family history of glue ear anyway). if baby has formula get onto a cup asap and encourage them to drink it sat up. HTH

[ilovemountains]

We went to an ENT specialist last year when our DD (then 1.2) had suffered almost continual ear infections for three months, despite various types of antibiotics prescribed by our GP, which would improve matters briefly but not for long.
The ENT specialist diagnosed another type of antibiotics which did work, and we then got a repeat prescription for a low-dose of antibiotics to take us through from January to the better weather (April). We haven't had any ear infections since.
After three months of agony, seeing the ENT specialist worked for us, and I hope it works for you as well.

[countrylover]

thanks for all your replies. i'm hoping they'll recomend a low dose of antibiotics from september to see us through next winter.

i just can't face another one the same as the past six months. it's been a nighmare not to mention how much pain my poor LO has been in.

[notnowbernard]

Just an addit, really:

DD1 had repeated ear infections for about a year between 2-3yrs. Seemed to be constantly on ABs

Took her to a homeopath that specialised in working with children. Hasn't had one since, and she's 6 now

Might be worth a thought

Good luck with everything though. Horrible to have a baby that's poorly so often

[SingleMum01]

Had the same with my DS (now 7). As soon as he started getting teeth started getting ear infections until age 2/3. He'd be on antibiotics every other week-ish. I had a referral to the ENT at age 3. However, at that time he hadn't had any more infections so they left it - they were going to put gromits in. Still gets the occasional ear infection when he's had a cold.

Interestingly my dr told me its usually the same infection that just doesn't clear up - it takes about 10 weeks for the gunk to clear from the ear pipes.

Good luck.

[Mumbajam]

Had the same with my DS (now 7). As soon as he started getting teeth started getting ear infections until age 2/3. He'd be on antibiotics every other week-ish. I had a referral to the ENT at age 3. However, at that time he hadn't had any more infections so they left it - they were going to put gromits in. Still gets the occasional ear infection when he's had a cold.

Interestingly my dr told me its usually the same infection that just doesn't clear up - it takes about 10 weeks for the gunk to clear from the ear pipes.

Good luck.

[Mumbajam]

Oh sorry, double post.

Grizzles.

[Tillyscoutsmum]

Have you considered cranial osteopathy ? I've no personal experience but know of a few people who believe it has cured ear infections. The osteopath does some gentle manipulation to the ear which apparently stretches the ear canal and stops fluid building up so easily

[pronobonino]

Hi, two ear infections were enough for me: the abs "worked" first time then three weeks later along came another. It was the beginning of winter and I thought, this is just the start of a never ending saga: infection, abs, bad stomach, poor nutrition diminishing immunity, bloody thing comes back.

I let my baby get over the second ear infection with his own fever and minimal/no calpol and no abs. He didn't have another one.

[ByThePowerOfGreyskull]

hi there
I just want to add our story,
DS had 5 perforated ear drums in his first 5 months of life. (ears seemed to alternate with infections almost constantly!)
we took a double approach, ENT referal but also went to a cranial osteopath, we had 3 sessions with her that cost in total less than £100.
The ENT chap said he couldn't explain it but the C/O seems to work well with little ones with ear problems, he has to date had no further ear infections

[Lizcat]

My DD developed a mastoid abscess at 5months old (life threatening complication of middle ear infections). After emergency ENT surgery she had regular ear infections with glue ear till she was 3 years old.
However, we did take her for cranial osteopathy when she was 6 months old as well which I believe did improve things an awful lot and reduced the ear infections from monthly to every 2 months.