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Children's health

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Original poster

Ear Infection & Fever Not Going

25 replies

totallyfrusted · 30/11/2017 17:47

Hi, am hoping for some advice to try and calm my overly tired nerves...

My DD was diagnosed with an ear infection last weekend and was prescribed antibiotics.

The problem we have is that she refuses to take them. Before anyone comes up with ideas we really have tried everything from bribery to pinning her down and forcing it in. All she does is make herself sick and brings any that we got in back up again.......

She has been off school all week with ear pain but mainly because her temperature has been up and down like a yoyo. She finally went back today as she had a goods night sleep and normal temp.

Now she is home she looks terrible and is totally exhausted and her temperature has gone back up and she has a fever again.

I am at my wits end with trying to get her to take the antibiotics and massively worrying that she cant seem to get over it.

Has anyone had an ear infection go on for a weeK? I'm driving myself potty that there is an underlying reason why it wont clear up.

sorry for long post...

OP posts:

Rainbowandraindrops67 · 30/11/2017 17:57

You just need another antibiotic- some even taste nice! Phone your gp and ask for advice first thing and see if they can prescribe you one she can tolerate

Rainbowandraindrops67 · 30/11/2017 17:58

Oh and the new temp might be the next illness rather than the ear infection not gone!

Original poster

totallyfrusted · 30/11/2017 17:59

Thanks but we're already onto the second one which really doesn't taste bad. She's just got a total block on taking it.

She's convinced we're hiding it in food (which we have tried!!) so is hardly eating!!!

OP posts:

Original poster

totallyfrusted · 30/11/2017 18:16

Yeay!!!! that's something to look forward to....

OP posts:

Rainbowandraindrops67 · 30/11/2017 18:45

It’s endless isn’t it winter

Original poster

totallyfrusted · 30/11/2017 18:47

The joy of reception year at school!!!

OP posts:

Witchend · 30/11/2017 23:37

Ds suffers from multiple ear infections and is an expert in refusing all antibiotics.

The most successful at her age was:
Hold under chin slightly forcing the chin up (harder to spit it out)
Put syringe in, release medicine and immediately follow it up with chocolate/sweet/something they like which melts into their mouth.
Keep holding the chin until swallowed.

He's now 10yo and can be bribed (currently on antibiotics 2x a day and bought two huge bags of chocolates). And also threatened, that is: "If you don't take them then you may end up on stronger ones that taste worse".
And he also likes to know how much (you think) is left. So I'll look at it and say "three more days."

Other possibility (didn't work for ds) is send her into school and give it to the teacher to give. Most children swallow without a fuss in front of their friends.

MrsWildermac · 30/11/2017 23:54

How old is she OP? My DD has had recurrent ear infections, tonsillitis and UTI’s (to the point she has had part of her kidney, her tonsils and adenoids removed and grommets put in).

The trick is to be ABSOLUTELY consistent. DO NOT give in. She HAS to take them and has no choice about it. If she won’t, swaddle her in a large towel, tip her back 45deg, squirt the antibiotic bit by bit into the pouch of her cheek whilst holding her nose if she won’t swallow. Even if she makes herself sick, you do it again the next time. You praise her HUGELY each time any of it goes in, give her some juice to swallow straight away (not fizzy, that will almost certainly make her sick if she is in a state), and two sweets of choice. The next time, you give her the syringe, the juice and the sweets and give her the choice of doing it herself or you holding her down. If she doesn’t take it, then you hold her down again.

It’s awful, but it works, and better to have you hold her down etc than to remain ill and eventually, potentially, as it was in my DD’s case, end up in sepsis and exceptionally poorly.

Hope she gets better soon.

Original poster

totallyfrusted · 01/12/2017 08:00

Thanks everyone.

The only way we can get any in is by wrapping her in towels and forcing the syringe in. I hold her nose and my DH her chin but she still manages to either spit it out or makes herself sick and it all comes back out.

She's been up sick in the night and I am totally at my wits end over it.

She's already crying this morning about taking it and we haven't even mentioned it!!

OP posts:

MrsWildermac · 01/12/2017 20:34

How did you get on today OP?

Whirliegigspider · 01/12/2017 20:37

Do you have a children's hosp near you? Sometimes they have like a teddy hospital and play specialists. Could ask if they allow visits for issues like this. It's for hosp patients mainly but worth an ask.

buttwingsham · 01/12/2017 21:21

My ds has reoccurring ear infections and the only thing that gets rid of them is antibiotic ear drops.
I wonder if they may be an option if you end up back at the GP?

Original poster

totallyfrusted · 02/12/2017 20:03

Hi, well the ears have cleared up but she is still running a high temp. She woke up fine and no temp and I really thought she was over it. She ate lunch and the fell asleep on the sofa. When she woke up her temp was back up to 38 and it has stayed there all day!!! She's now gone to bed and is asleep.

I am making myself paranoid as I keep reading things on the internet about children with fevers that don't go.

It's been 8 days now and thought the ear pain has gone she is really no better.

A friend of mines daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia after having toncilitus that didn't clear up and I can't help but keep dwelling on it.....

OP posts:

WhentoD · 03/12/2017 08:24

I hope you can get some help to get this resolved. The temperature indicates there's an unresolved infection which needs dealing with.
Ongoing, untreated infection can lead to a worsening infection like sepsis. Perhaps call the out if hours service. Maybe the doctor could explain the other alterative is IV antibiotics which would happen if the infection worsened.

Quartz2208 · 03/12/2017 09:51

It sounds like she needs the antibiotics. I agree with mrswildermac you have to be absolutely consistent. DS used to be the same then he did get sepsis and after the iv antibiotics had a 14 day 4 times a day course. By the end he was taking them and now he is fine (moans and needs a drink after but that is it). He has learnt that they make him feel better

ButtonLoon · 03/12/2017 10:02

I would see a Dr about the ongoing fever.

Best thing we do for yucky antibiotics (the penicillin is godawful) is to coat the syringe in golden syrup.

Original poster

totallyfrusted · 03/12/2017 12:04

Thanks all.

She's up and about and seems quite happy but her temperature is 38.5 again!!

Am going to give 111 a call (again!!)

She's already missed a whole week of school and I really was hoping she would be well enough to go tomorrow but i'm really not sure what to do now...

OP posts:

Original poster

totallyfrusted · 03/12/2017 12:05

Quartz, can I ask what symptoms your Son had for Sepsis?

OP posts:

Quartz2208 · 03/12/2017 12:10

Cold hands and feet, leg pains so he could not walk, high temperature not going down, difficult to rouse and then a non blanching rash

Original poster

totallyfrusted · 03/12/2017 12:12

Thanks,

The only thing she has is a high temp. She's on the sofa playing on her kindle and has just told me she's hungry!!

Due to my lack of sleep I think I feel worse than she does....

OP posts:

Rainbowandraindrops67 · 03/12/2017 12:26

I’d get her tested for a uti

Original poster

totallyfrusted · 03/12/2017 12:31

Have just called 111 and am waiting for a nurse to call back.

OP posts:

Quartz2208 · 03/12/2017 14:30

It does sound like an infection though that needs antibiotics to shift

WhentoD · 03/12/2017 16:38

Symptoms of sepsis can just be high temp and heart rate. Can you take her pulse with a fitbit or similar? My dc seemed to be just under the weather a bit. Was sick a couple of times and had a sore tummy. It became acute sepsis. It's scary how infections can develop without treatment.
Hope you get some good medical advice soon.

Quartz2208 · 03/12/2017 16:48

Yes breathing and heart rate as well - last time he was ill 111 sent an ambulance because heart rate, breathing and temp scored him 3 out of 5 on the scale and a trip to a&e for antibiotics (was a Saturday) 2 sets of 5 day courses were needed as the first lot did not shift it (he went downhill fast when the first course stopped).

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