Antibiotics for ear infection

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Do they do anything?

My DS has had quite a few ear infections. Now when I suspect one I don't even bother to take him to the GP as we have been told in the past that antibiotics are no more effective than calpol.

However, yesterday my ds was vomitting continuously so we took him to a Walk-In where the doctor explained that it was a reaction to a severe ear infection and then prescribed antibiotics (stupid for a vomitting child imo). When I asked why antibiotics, he said he needs them because his ear infection is severe....

So, - Do they do anything or don't they? And should I fret that my DS hasn't a hope in hell of keeping them down?

TIA

Well I've had many an ear infection and antibiotics have a dramatic and very fast effect on mine. Why would they not? I guess you might get a viral ear infection, but in my expereince they seem to tend to be bacterial.

Anti-biotics have been prescribed twice for ds. But the doctor did say that he wouldn't prescribe them unless the eardrum was bursting or the pain was in both ears.

Afraid last time I lied a bit and said the pain was in both ears in order to get the ab's. Each time they have worked like a dream.

hmm...I think it may depend.....
I had once a nasty earinfection which also effected my outer ear and made my face swell on that side, and the Ab's I received helped well...

not sure about the vomiting because of earinfection thing....and, indeed, if said child vomits the ab's out again how effective will they be....hm

Thanks Bubb, so why has both my GP and HV told me that latest research shows them to be unnecessary?

My DS is too little to speak much yet but has been complaining about his 'mou' (mouth) lots over the last week.

girlandboy What reason was given for NOT prescribing?

bump

any medical people?

Best friend is nursing sister. Nothing else sorts out her dd. Ds1 in right old state, couldn't get gp appointment consultant lives next door. Saw him for us. Advised casualty and antibiotics.

There was research last year - can't remember where, sorry - that said that antibiotics reduce the duration of an ear infection by 24 hours.

It's obviously a good idea for everyone to have as few antibiotics floating about the world as possible - that way they will carry on working effectively for really severe infections and the bugs won't develop resistance to them.

Its how unwell your child is surely. Of course hold off if things are manageable, but there comes a point where the dc's struggle to fight everyting off themselves. Little pockets of infection not fully cleared up here and there are no good for anyone IMHO.

I just googled the research, and it says it's scope was limited to treatment of non-severe ear infections. I think once your DS is vomiting your dealing with something beyond the scope of the research?

Thanks bubbaluv. Did they define 'severe'?

They do nothing if it's a viral infection. But around 50% of infections are bacterial so they work in these cases. My DS had them every 2-3 weeks or so from 6-12 months old and they pretty much worked every time. Some doctors were reluctant to prescribe them, but because suffered from febrile convulsions they always did. He would fit with any spike over 38.5 and this was far more risky than the antibiotics. Once he had them, he was always hugely better within 24 hours...

my DS has had a lot of ear infections and antibiotics have always had a dramatic effect. Last time, he was vomiting every half hour or so with high fever. Once I managed to get a full dose into him, he stopped vomiting. I suggest giving it a tiny amount at a time (0.5 mls or so) every 10/20 minutes until you have got the first dose down.

Warning though, 2nd hand amoxcillen really stains carpets ...

good luck

Sorry for delay.

Doctor didn't give a reason for not prescribing ab's. Just said that unless the eardrum was bulging, or infected in both ears then he wouldn't prescribe. But then again, you have to be virtually at deaths door to get ab's from my gp. Possibly not a bad thing really, because they are over-prescribed, but ear-ache can be agony.

My DD had one ear infection after another from Sept 06 to March 07, the GP's prescribed AB's every time and they did help but she started to become resistant to them and I had to keep going back and getting stonger ones or longer courses. She got problems with gut bacteria imbalance and thrush which we think was as a result. Doing our own research we found advice that suggested that the use of AB's should be limited to very severe cases and that ear infections could be managed with the use of AI's only ie calpol or nurofen. We tried this and it didn't work for us, our DD was in too much pain and couldn't hear. We only got her problems sorted by her having grommets fitted. Now if she gets one ( grommets recently fell out) we try nurofen, clean her ears and if she's still struggling after a couple of days we go to our GP and insist on AB's. Long term use of AB's is not advisable, we know that but I'd rather get my DD over it asap as we know what she gets like if untreated. You have to follow your instincts and do what you feel your child needs.