Alternatives to anti-biotics for ear infections?

[WigWamBam]

My dd is very prone to ear infections and has been prescribed Amoxycillin several times already. She's got another ear infection at the moment, and once again a prescription for Amoxycillin.

I'm sure I've seen threads here about treating ear infections without using anti-biotics but I can't find the threads. Is there an alternative? I'm a bit concerned about the amount of times she's needed to have the anti-biotics, given that they're meant to become less effective for other illnesses if they've overused.

[meggymoo]

Message withdrawn

[WigWamBam]

Did his parents have much of a job finding a honoeopath, and does he have preventative treatment or just have the infection treated when he gets it?

[ruty]

i have heard a good chiropracter can help too.

[Blu]

If an infection is actually brewing, WWB, I would use the prescription - and then maybe look for some preventative measure after that.

DS had an infection that resulted in ous coming through his ear-drum, and I wouldn't want to see him that kind of pain ever again.

[bundle]

I've had a burst eardrum too and it's incredibly painful. These days drs are only supposed to prescribe antibiotics if there is redness in both ears, the pain has been there for a certain amount of time, and even then it will only reduce the episode by one day.

[noddyholder]

hopi ear candles are supposed to be good

[elastamum]

If the infections are recurrent maybe amoxycillin isnt the right antibiotic? Gps always prescribe amoxycillin first but endless courses of the stuff are probably an indication that it is not clearing the problem up. Ask the GP if they think the infection might be resistant to it and something else might work better. I have also had a burst eardrum as a teenager, it hurt like hell and my mum gave me paracetamol and brandy!

[Aimsmum]

Message withdrawn

[WigWamBam]

The Amoxycillin seems to work, in that it clears up the infection, but as she has it so frequently I'm just concerned about the amount she's having and the chances that anti-biotics won't be effective for her if she needs them for anything serious in the future. I'm giving her the Amoxycillin at the moment, because she's in pain, but I'd like to look for something else that I could use in the future, or something I could use as a preventative measure.

When she gets these infections it's always in both ears and the doctor always comments on how red and inflammed her ears get, so I'm sure that the prescribing of the abs is fine, I'd just like to do something if I can that will help lessen the likelihood of her getting them in the first place.

Not sure about the brandy, elastamum ... maybe for me if things get too much

Aimsmum, I did wonder whether Amoxycillin was too broad spectrum an ab; it seems to work though. Maybe if it happens again I can ask about a more specific type, or drops instead. I might also try getting her some echinacea, see if that helps. It certainly can't hurt.

Many thanks.

[bundle]

18/20 of ear infections get better with or without ab's.

[WigWamBam]

When ibuprofen and paracetamol aren't doing anything for the pain, though, she needs to have something.

[ruty]

there;s a thread about manuka honey being a powerful infection buster - maybe try it, can't hurt, taken orally i mean, not in the ear!

[WigWamBam]

I hadn't seen that one; I'll have a look. Thank you.

[meggymoo]

Message withdrawn

[inglis]

Check out

www.drgreene.org/body.cfm id=54&requesttimeout=60&action=list

you won't find anything more helpful on the web

(see prevention and treatment)

also, see about getting your dd the pneumococcal vaccine

I'm having same problems with my son. Endless prescriptions of antibiotics. Solgar do a good prebiotic powder you can add to their milk to put back some of the 'good' bacteria into them.

Good luck. It's horrible to see them so miserable, isn't it.

[inglis]

That link doesn't work. Try copy and paste with this instead

www.drgreene.org/body.cfm

then go to the right of the screen, quick search, then scroll down to ear infections.

[WigWamBam]

Thank you, that looks interesting.

Hadn't even thought of aloe vera, meggymoo - I use it for everything else but hadn't even realised that they made ear drops.

[meggymoo]

Message withdrawn