Starting to think this can't be normal

[Doowop1919]

I'm just so fed up. My 3.8 year old is complaining about his ear again. He's been fighting an ear infection since the middle of February, had three rounds of antibiotics and the third finally shifted it around 2 weeks ago (confirmed by the paediatrician). This morning, he's saying his ear hurts again, same one. He's had three different colds in the last two weeks, or one that kept stopping and starting.

My 14 month old gets maybe 2 or 3 days of being well before the next cold hits him and he's utterly miserable. Spends all day just screaming at me. Its always just been viral and I've just had to wait for it to pass.

I'm not exaggerating when I say we've had ONE WEEK of being well all at the same time since the beginning of January. I'm so fed up. My 14 month old can't sleep so is up half the night crying in frustration, and I feel at the end of my rope after nearly 3 months of continuing sickness. This weekend the weather completely changed and I kept telling myself we must be due a break / with the weather change, surely we're going to have a few weeks of being fine? But nope.

I'm beginning to wonder if something is wrong with their immune systems, I'm sitting here trying not to cry into my coffee knowing I have to do another full day with two sick children and another doctor's trip on hardly any sleep. DH is great and is going to WFH but at the end of the day, he still has to work.

Hi my dd had this, she had one ear infection that lasted 6 months 😱

She had glue ear and needed grommets which helped with the heating but unfortunately not with the infections. The ENT Dr prescribed antibiotic ear drops which helped a bit.

In the end the only thing that helped was time, once she got older the ears eventually sorted themselves out. Which I know isn't much comfort to you in the thick of it.

Stopping water getting in the ears was also key, the ears needed to be completely dry so even water from baths and showers should be avoided. We found the silicone ear plus and fashioning a headband out of a swim cap was the most effective way to keep water out the ears when washing hair.

Did they rule out covid, knowing ''Symptoms of an ear infection with the virus that causes COVID can be similar to those of an ear infection caused by other viruses and bacteria.'' https://www.verywellhealth.com/ear-infection-and-covid-19-5192058#:~:text=COVID%2D19%20can%20affect%20the,cause%20ear%20symptoms%20as%20well. ''SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, can cause ear infections. It can infect the inner ear as well as the middle ear. When the virus infects the middle ear, it can cause otitis'' ...''See a healthcare provider if you have chronic (recurrent) ear infections, fluid that refuses to drain away, or symptoms that aren't improving after two or three days.''''Treating an ear infection may involve antivirals or antibiotics depending on the cause...Chronic ear infections that recur often or that present consistent fluid buildup in the middle ear may require treatment with ear tubes, which are small cylinders that are positioned through the eardrum to allow easy passage of air into the middle ear...If you find yourself experiencing symptoms of either COVID-19 or an ear infection, consult your healthcare provider right away. It is important that you be tested for COVID-19 to prevent the spread of the virus.''

Use probiotics

@ForRoseExpert covid was ruled out via swab tests each time my son went to the doctor/hospital. I did ask what virus it was instead each time and I was told they didnt know, that it could be any number of different ones...even though they had taken swabs so should be able to test for different viruses. It is very frustrating.

It’s pretty common when they are very small as they’re building immunity. Sounds like they eat well so don’t torture yourself. I work in primary and the younger years have all had very snotty noses, chesty coughs and earaches since Christmas. They have tiny ear canals so the slightest inflammation hurts.
I remember feeling like you when I had a 3 year old with chickenpox and a 3 week old baby I was breastfeeding and I also had diarrhoea. It passed but felt like hell. This will also pass for you. Hang in there.

Strange how they have another mysterious virus....Did they refer to ENT? Maybe those experts can find the cause if the GP can't.. Isn't this the next step when no one knows anything?...The 'number of different viruses' what exactly are these viruses - did they give examples? We live in a modern world, where parents should be fully informed, especially during a pandemic with a virus that can affect any organ, can lower immunity and changed medicine forever....When you go to any blood test and you ask what they are for , would they say they test for different diseases, without listing them? How many viruses are there? How many tests? I remember being pregnant and being told all the diseases they were testing for, with clarity & no confusion.

Oh I completely get it! This was the blessing with covid as our nursery closed it was the most well / none sick ever had ever been!

It’s so hard and I promise it does get better as they get older.