Another ear infection and another incompetent doctor!

[mumnosbest]

After battling with the doctors for an appointment. DS finally had an appointment today (24hrs later), only to be told his ear isn't infected and just keep giving ibuprofen and paracetamol. He has ear infections every 2-3 months and has had for about 4 years, so I argued his case and was still sent home. Right now he's sitting with DH at the out of hours surgery, waiting for antibiotics for... an ear infection! (sorry for the rant but am really fed up).

Why couldn't the doctor see this this morning?
Why does he get them so often?
Why can't these doctors listen and check his history?

Has anyoneelse had a DC who suffers recurrent ear infections? Is there any treatment?

i know it is grim but looking at the evidence (clinical trials and the like) the majority of ear pain/infection is viral and will self limit after 3 days or so. You need to treat 14 kids with antibiotics for one to gain benefit, i.e. 13 kids will take antibiotic for no good reason for 5 days for one other to get better faster. If a child is aged under 12 months and or has bilateral symptoms/signs then one might give antibiotics earlier but if an older child and symptoms less than 48-72hrs the advice should be analgesia only.

If the out of hours people keep giving you antibiotics it may well be because you are seeing a clinician who is less evidence based (eg a nurse/ecp) or because the practitioner is ground down and fed up of seeing parents who think they know best...

some un-mumsnetty hugs as I know having a child with ear ache is miserable as sin but as a doctor I also know it's better to go with what is the right thing to do not what is easy (ie would be v easy just to give you a script for amoxicillin but as i know the evidence is not to do so it would be wrong of me to do it IYSWIM)

Ouch. DS1 now 15 used to suffer terribly with ear infections from the age of about 6 months old. Last one he had was when he was about 13. Actually at the moment he is full of cold and his asthma is playing up so I fully expect him to say his ear is hurting.

We were lucky that at our dr's if you say it's your child that is poorly, they fit you in every time. I have always been given ab's.

I know what you're saying but whether he's left to suffer a day or a few days, after a few doses of penicillin, his pain goes. He gets to the point where he is inconsoleable and at 7yrs, this isn't like him. Maybe he is the 1 in 14 because his pain doesn't go untill he starts antibiotics. Last time they wouldn't prescribe anything for 3 or 4 days (and sleepless nights) untill eventually they said he had tonsilitis... and an ear infection. I don't like to give my DCs any medicine unless they are really poorly (my sister thinks I'm mean, her DCs only need to snif before she doses them up with something) but when it comes to DSs ears I know the pattern.

Thanks Shiney too, really hope DS doesn't have these untill he's 13, it breaks my heart :(

Have you seen an ent consultant, my ds had recurrent ear infections last winter, saw a paed net in June and had his tonsils, adenoids and grommets op in August.
he is a different child, eating much better, sleeping well and only had one infection since.
Because of the grommets he did not have much pain with that infection at all.
Hth

I asked about this last year. I was told there is a long waiting list and if he sees a consultant but hasn't had an infection within a few weeks of the appointment they can't do anything. As his infections don't follow a timetable the doctor says it would be pointless. I made a complaint at the surgery, the person I spoke to said Dss doctor actually has a specialism in ENT! He is going to enquire as to why the symptoms were not recognised or acted upon (especially the tonsilitis). Very sympathetic and helpful.

Not my experience mumnosbest. ENT have never particularly said they need to see ds when he's just had an infection. The last set of grommets he had they put in within 2 days of deciding and I recently moved an appointment because I needed him seen sooner. There's about 3 month waiting list for a consultant's appointment round here.

But at 7yo they'd probably want to wait it out as most children have stopped by around 8-10 years.

Thanks maybe this could b worth another try

I with you!

DD is on infection number 7 and she's 18 months. Luckily my doc is lovely and we have good anti-bs which work and which she needs, they swab to check.

I don't know why she gets them either but her hearing is affected (failed numerous hearing tests) and I don't know what the next step is or when to push for further action. Will watch this thread with interest and I hope your DS feels better soon.

I'm not w doctor, but I really wouldn't be happy with my child having antibiotics every 2-3 months for 4 years- that's a lot of antibiotics. I presume you've tried the alternating ibuprofen and parqcetamol and hot water bottle treatment? You have upped th does of painkillers as he's got older and bigger, haven't you?

DD used to suffer from this when she was little so we eventually got referred to a private paediatrician (I have healthcare through work). The paediatrician told us that studies in other countries had shown that a lot of people are immune to amoxicillan. He therefore prescribed DD azithromycin which you only give for 3 days. This worked on DD and when she had problems thereafter I always requested that rather than amoxycillan (paediatrician had written back to our surgery so they had a copy on their system). DD did grow out of this by the time she was about 4.

The other thing I used to do was make sure she had wax earplugs in and a headband on whenever we went swimming.

seeker- yes yes and yes. I don't like him having so many antibiotics either but preferntial to suffering and have been given no alternatives. The antibiotics do work as soon as he has had 2-3 doses. When he is eventually prescribed them, they do alternate which antibiotics he has, so he's not on the same one every time. Swimming doesn't seem to trigger it. DS is generally very healthy, doesn't get other illnesses often. He doesn't even tend to get common colds like me and his sister. The only time he takes any medication (including calpol) is for these ear infections.

I do sympathise, but anti biotics often don't help as most infections are viral. It sounds as your son has glue ear rather than a true ear infection. Sometimes the excessive fluid makes the ear feel painful.

My son had perforiated ear drums numerous times as baby. The only time our GP prescribed anti biotics was when his ear perforated. In the end what helped him was having his adenoids out. My son had grommets although he was unlucky with them. Grommets often help with persistant ear problems.

I suggest that you ask your GP for a hearing test with ENT.

I thought all the studies showed that antibiotics only reduce the duration of an ear infection by 12 hours?

Other alternatives you might consider.

Your son could try www.gluear.co.uk/parents/how-does-otovent-work.ashx when he has no ear infection.

Some children benefit from cranial osteopathy.

You could try cutting dairy out of his diet.

Thanks reallytired, I'll give anything a go. I understand all that's been said about antibiotics but they do actually help DS when he starts them.