Ear infection in small babies- would you always give anti-b?

[Mrscarrot]

My 20 week old was up screaming for over three hours on Monday, first time he's cried in the night (he wakes up for feeds but doesn't cry)
so I knew something was wrong.

Gp said an infection in one ear but mild, see how he goes in two days.

This morning seemed ok so didn't ring up but he had a big screaming patch this afternoon, took him back and they said as it's still infected two days later, better give him anti-biotics.

I collected them but haven't given them yet as I'm really anxious about the link to allergies. Dd had asthma as a baby, and lo is already showing symptoms of allergy, wheeziness, watery eyes, cough etc, so I don't want to make it worse.

here

On one hand, ears often clear up themselves and its better to avoid AB if at all possible, especially they're allergic types

on the other hand they're bloody painful and there have been links to glue ear with untreated infections.

Feeling very stressed about it, any advice?

did you mention your worries to the GP?
TBH if antibiotics have been prescribed and he has had 4 days of a painful ear i would give them
if you want some medical advice call NHS direct

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I did mention it, extensively to the gp, who didn't seem to think there was a link and that it was better to treat it now it isn't clearing up.

When I got home my neighbour whose daughter is allergic to nuts said she didn't ever treat it and now has glue ear, which has resulted in partial deafness.

Did your ds have an ear infection, Hedda?

if the GP couldn't reassure you, i am not sure what to say
i am wary of over-use of ABs but i have to say a well timed intervention with ABs can sometimes be extremely good
FWIW my DS was admitted to hospital with a terrible infection at 12 days old and had to have IV antibiotics and i dread to think what would have happened without them
if your DS has been prescribed them please give them to him

Doodle- thanks, that's what I've been worry about, sounds as if you had the same as my neighbours dd, now deaf in one ear.

It's just I was given so many as a child and I have tons of allergies that developed in my teens, hayfever, animal fur, asthma etc.

Something is stopiingme giving it but I feel cruel. Dh wants me to give them

Rubyslippers- sorry to hear that about your ds. I think I'm swaying that way but feel intensely anxious about it

DS is just fine now
your anxiety is really coming through your posts and i don't know if i can reassure you
FWIW there is loads of stuff on the internet which can scare the crap out of you ....

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Just to play devil's advocate, couldn't this link be a chicken and egg type thing? That is, couldn't the asthmatic children be more prone to infections in thier first 6 months (and therefore more likely to have been prescribed abs?)

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yes, I agree, it could, sweetydarling

the gp did say that his allergies could have caused him to get it as the middle ear is already inflamed and mucousy

but I expect there are cases where there is no sign of them before. Another mnetter has just given them to her lo and they've made him very sick and diahrrrrrr, howver it's spelt, although that's arguably better than earache

I think I will have to do it but I'm just so worried about adding to his snuffles/wheezes etc

Oh, can you do that, hedda, give it straight to them?

The health shop in town told me to take lots of them so it gets through in my milk when I went about his allergy before, I guess its much better for him to get it directly

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yes, bf, but when he's crying in pain he won't feed or suck at all, poor thing. It's so unlike him, he hardly every cries, just smiles thrugh his coughs and wheezes.

He's had calpol this evening too, nasty pink stuff, why is it always coloured and full of crap.

AB's are neon yellow

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Thanks

I won't wake him to do it but might leave till the morning unless he's bad in the night

I'm going to start dosing up on acidophollus now to get some in his system in advance

keep crossing posts

yes, when crying this afternoon he was rigid and refusing to latch on, lasted ages

some people prob think I'm a bad mum for not giving them straight away

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Not a bad mum at all - just concerned to do the right thing.

Personally I would give them. DD had no abs until she was 1, but then had three ear infections in her second year and 3 lots of antibiotics. She has never had them since.

DS had the prevenar immunisation and I'm convinced that that has had an impact insofar as he has never had an ear infection. Also dd may have similar predisposition to ear/sinus probs as me (have narrow tubes).

Anyway... I think that the feeding thing and pbvious pain would convince me.

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Thanks, I really appreciate advice, Hedda.

I have got mega stressed about it, but I always do, anxiety gets the better of me.

Did you mean wheat/dairy from my diet or his? I have cut it out (of mine) and it seems to help him. I was wondering if I should do it the whole time I'm breastfeeding. Might introduce goats at some point and see how that goes.

I'm very interested in the homeopathy helping allergy, though I don't know much about it. There's a good place in town that does over the counter things too.