!8 month DS is on his 3rd very painful ear infection in a month...antibiotics help but don't clear it. Any ideas why not?

[OlderNotWiser]

Poor lad was in agony again earlier, but thankfully is asleep now. Basically, he has been prescribed anti-biotics for the first 2 bouts, but as soon as he finishes the course the symptoms return within 3 days. And he is in so much pain its horrible. Will he just have to stay on them longer, could there be something else I could do...? Anyone had similar and if so did it just go in its own time? TIA for any replies.

Bumpity..

could be that it's viral not bacterial.
has he had swabs taken?

What sometimes happens is the course of antibiotics is just enough to clear the symtoms but not enough to get rid of the bacteria so once the course ends, it comes back again. Maybe he needs a longer course.

No swabs taken thisis. I did half wonder that, but then would the anti-biotics help at all if it was viral..? He is pain free and happy when on them, in lots of pain when not.

are they SURE it's an ear infection?

a lot of surgeries are really reluctant to prescribe AB's because most ear infections do clear up by themselves.
hence me asking about the swabs, cos that would give you a definite answer.

what are his symptoms?

Gah, got dropped out of mumsnet and couldnt get in again...

His symptoms are off his food, temperature, clingy, red ear/side of face, and several half hour bouts per day of extreme pain. Doc looked in his ear both times and said it looked very inflamed so it seems fairly clearcut..?

Will go back to doc tomorrow I guess.

My DS suffers with frequent ear infections but they usually perforate. I was told that if they return in less than two weeks then generally it wasn't wiped out properly the first time. I would certainly push for ear swab- takes seconds and will give definite answer. And ask for different antib's/longer course if it turns out it is bacterial.

We had lot of success treating DS's recurrent infections with cranial osteopathy too. Eight weeks without an infection for first time in year -- woohoo!

wondered if it could be teething type thing or something instead?

i'd def go back and ask if they can take some swabs so that you know you're treating the right thing.
if they come back positive you can then get a longer course of ab's, or something stronger perhaps?

Oh crikey...sympathy to wingandprayer's DS. Hope we dont go that way too...but will certainly tuck away the osteo idea just in case. Interesting!

Well I do think he could be teething too. Poor bugger! Funny how stuff flares up when teeth are on the move.

Anyway, thanks for comments, been up since 5 so really need to go to bed now...! And back to doc tomorrow.