Is it really normal to get 5+ ear infections per year?...

[spotofcheerfulness]

...the GP seems to think so but I am fed up of shovelling antibiotics into DS when he just seems to lurch from illness to illness. They admitted that he was more likely to catch another virus (that always turns into an ear infection) in the days immediately following the end of the course of antibiotics, but when he regularly gets a temp of 40+ and an infection that does seem to go away of its own accord they say it's all I can do.

Does anyone have any tips about reducing the frequency of ear infections as I would so like a toddler who is not constantly medicated. I have read v contradictory things about reducing dairy for e.g - has anyone got any anecdotal evidence that it does reduce mucus? Or any other treatment that is a little less harsh?

DD had 5 or 6 ear infections between the ages of 1 and 2, all of which perforated the ear drum and required antibiotics. I was worried, GP was utterly convinced that when she grew and her 'tubes got bigger' they would stop. She grew and they did.

I hope the same happens for your DS .

Aargh! DS only finished the last course of antibiotics on Tues and he's got another infection, 40+ temp, bright red ears and sinuses etc. . Spoke to docs who essentially said nothing to do, just keep the temp down with Calpol and Nurofen and ride it out. How do I get an ENT referral when the docs are happy it's all 'normal'?

DS2 (now 19 months) had constant ear infections from October until April this year. By constant I mean every time he finished the course of antibiotics the infection would come back. He was very poorly with them and had temps of 40 often with vomiting too so he was always weak and deydrated.

He wasn't a very happy baby and understandably cried all the time. Understandably too I cried all the time and I'm sure the relentless task of looking after a poorly baby with no end in sight contributed to my PND.

Anyway, I digress...eventually after the 10th ear infection we were refered to an ENT specialist who immediately put him on a low dose of amoxillian every day for three months.

It worked however if I forgot to give it to him for even just one evening then the next day he would have a temp etc and be crying in pain. So, the infection was clearly still there but just being kept at bay by the daily antibiotics.

After three months on the antibiotics and DS2 still having a massive amount of fluid behind the ear drum, the specialist agreed to gromitts. I was all ready to fight to have them done but he suggested them as soon as I explained that the antibiotics were only masking the symptoms.

He had them fitted in Sept this year and he was in and out of hospital in five hours. To date he hasn't had a single ear infection and more importantly he has finally started walking. He never crawled, he never bum shuffled and he just didn't move before the gromitts. We think it was affecting his balance as within 24 hours of the operation he literally just got up and walked. (He was 17 months old) It was amazing.

So for me personally, anyone in the medical profession who says gromitts don't work is talking out their backside. DS2 is a different baby now (well he's not really a baby anymore but you know what I mean). It has changed his life and to be honest, it's changed the rest of the families lives. Mummy is funnily a happy bunny

finally!

PS To get a referal in the first place I had to go to the GP and beg. I was in a right state and I took my Mum with me for moral support. There was no way I was leaving without that referal. He did agree but the wait was four months so I used some savings and paid to go private. We were seen within four days and it cost about £150.

By the time DS2 had been on the antibiotics every day for three months and it was agreed he could have the gromitts, the NHS appointment had come through so we had the gromitts done through them.