Advice on Antibiotics and Ear Infections

[tid]

I've just been to the dr with dd and have been told her ears slightly infected - not surprising as she cries whenever anything touches them. The doc prescribed antibiotics.

Is it OK to give antibiotics to a 7-month-old?

I'm concerned because:

a) I've heard it's not a good idea for babies to have ABs, although I don't know up to what age

and b) this dr has prescribed dd ABs previously when she has not needed them ("just in case", I was told).

DD is in a lot of pain, so I'm tempted to give them to her but would appreciate some other opinions!

[sparklynorthernstar]

Tid you have my sympathies too. My ds (2.9) is just recovering from his first ear infection of this winter. He was plagued by them last winter which led to glue ear and had grommits inserted in both ears this March.

Each time we go to see the GP we get amoxocillan (sp?) and each time I stress my concerns about this, however, with ear infections you have to be extremely careful as if left untreated it can cause further damage to the ear drum.

My advice would be as it's her first then give her the anti b's, and hope and pray she doesn't get another one.

Hope she feels better soon.

There are some interesting threads on here about xlytol (sp?) prevbenting ear infections - I'll try and find one for you.

[LIZS]

dd had antibiotics at 2 months and 4 months for ear infections and uti. Don't recall her having to have them since.

You could wait and see with the ear but tbh the situation can change so quickly that, in an extreme case, it could be borderline in the morning and severe by the afternoon. If she is in pain do the calpol/nurofen but imho go with the ab's this time too.

[MariNativityPlay]

Big sympathies, tid, we've been the same boat for the past year and dd has swallowed her own weight in amoxycillin syrup.
We are now looking at either grommets or even adenoidectomy for dd (15 months) according to the specialist yesterday
She doesn't think long-term use of antibiotics is especially helpful but would recommend their use if the ear infection is still unresolved after 48 hours.
I like to use as few antibiotics as poss too but the odd course will not hurt.

[MariNativityPlay]

milge, sparkly, how did you COPE with the op for grommets on your small baby? I am feeling quite panic-stricken even thinking about it. Dd has been referred for further audiology tests before her next hospital appointment but I think we will be making a firm choice come Feb...
Have the grommets worked for your children? What happens afterwards? Do their ears still discharge? Can they go swimming? TIA.

[Bigfatmomma]

My sympathies! DS (2.5yrs) was lucky, as a cleft baby with glue ear, to escape any ear infections until after grommets were put in in Jan, since then he's had loads and is just recovering from his first one since both grommets fell out .

We've found that the antibiotics DO work, but we always wait a couple of days before going to the doc and he usually suggests waiting a couple more before starting the antibiotics, just to give the infection chance to clear on its own - in DS's case, it never has, but I know that sometimes it can.

Are you breastfeeding? I understand that a little breastmilk in the ear can work well.

There are many conflicting views on this: in the end you have to go with your gut instinct, I think.

Hope the infection clears very soon.

[tid]

Thank you all so much. I gave dd some nurofen last night and that helped a lot. I gave her some more when we got in from the dr and although there's a bit more life in her, she's still feeling the pain so I think we'll give the antibiotics a go - esp if it can change so quickly.

I suffered from ear infections as a child (and still remember the pain from the most severe!). It's not fun.

I really appreciate all of your advice - thank you again.

[secur]

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[Bigfatmomma]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but may I ask a quick question, please? Thank you!

Those of you who wait for an ear infection to clear naturally: how long does it take on average? We waited from Thu (first emissions from ear) to Tue this time and it just got worse. Do I need to take a deep breath and stick it out for longer?

Advice appreciated - I don't like resorting to antibiotics all the time (only ever had a couple of courses in my 34yrs) but don't want to damage DS's ears, esp as one eardrum remains perforated after the grommet fell out.

[secur]

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[tid]

sparklynorthernstar - I've found that thread on xylitol - thanks. I think I may have some of those teething crystals around somewhere.

It's here .

Some interesting comments there about cow's milk - I'm not convinced the yogurt and cheese she's had recently haven't been causing her problems as well.

MariNativityPlay - when I had grommets years ago I was told I could swim but had to use wax-type ear plugs. This was about 25 years ago, however!

[Bigfatmomma]

Thanks for the responses. We're due to see the ENT consultant soon, so will ask his views.

Don't relish the thought of weeks of that smelly discharge from DS's ears, but would be worth it if it didn't happen again, iuswim! And DS seems most bothered in the few days BEFORE the discharge and fine once it starts.

With regard to grommets, DS was allowed to swim but we used wax earplugs plus a headband.

[KathH]

my 5 yr old has frequent ear infections and has done since 7 mths old, every time he gets a cold he always has an ear infection. GP has always given me the choice of whether or not i use antibiotics.

[TinselTamum]

My dd was like this until she was about 3.5. For what it's worth, amoxycillin never helped but augmentin did. They stopped prescribing amoxycillin after the first couple of times. Our doctors are part of the Medical School and are pretty evidence-based in their prescribing. Their view is that antibiotics rarely help an ear infection clear faster than letting nature take its course (and this is definitely evidence-based, I've seen the paper). However, it's important to give antibiotics once the eardrum has perforated/burst (as it invariably did in dd's case) because it's better to try and keep the wound as sterile as possible. If secondary infections then set in the wound is likely to be more ragged and take longer to heal, leaving scar tissue that can impair hearing in the long term.

Marina, what a worry. Your poor little dd.

[NatureDoc]

Try and track down Xylitol Xlear Nasal Wash by Vitamin Research Product to prevent ear infections in future. You poor thing - both my kids have had ear infections and it is horrific - thinking of you.

[Socci]

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[NatureDoc]

I have jsut discovered tht Smart Fish by Higher Nature (squeezy sachets of orange glavoured fish oil) also contain Xylitol - this is a great solution to preventing ear infections.

[HosannainexsAilsa]

Marina, my dd1 had constant ear infections from 9 months until she was 4½yo. They stopped when she had her adenoids removed, that was 6 years ago now, and we haven't had a single infection since. She still however has to see the ENT consultant as she still has some scar tissue on her ear drums. I lost count of the amount of amoxycillin the GP prescribed, the only thing that helped was drops prescribed by the consultant. Throughout all this her hearing is absolutely perfect, better than anyone else in the family.

Tid - how is your dd now, did the antibiotics work?

[HosannainexsAilsa]

Forgot to say that dd1 has specially moulded ear plugs for swimming. We have to go to our local hospital every 6 months for the moulds to be taken and the plugs made, this proves to be expensive at £44 per pair, but they are the only ones that haven't let any water in.

[MariNativityPlay]

Thanks for that info Ailsa, much appreciated! Good to know your dd's hearing remained unimpaired. I look at dd saying "ook" for "look" and worry that she's not going to get her consonants right...I am seriously thinking about adenoidectomy as you are the second person to tell me their child's problems resolved immediately afterwards. It's really helpful to hear it twice!
NatureDoc, SmartFish sounds ideal. My consultant brushed aside my hesitant mention of Xylitol but I'd still like to find a suitable product for her. Can it be used on children under two? TIA

[NatureDoc]

There doesn't seem to be any age caution on Smart Fish but most fish oils are not suitable for under 2's. Xylitol Xlear Nasal Wash by Vitamin Research Product is fine for little babies upwards so poss try that instead.