Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

Calling ear infection experts...

19 replies

bakeacake · 19/03/2006 20:38

DS has had at least 7 ear infections now (he's 15 months) plus a lot of throat infections too. My GP generally insists I give him AB's but they never seem to work and I am very reluctant to keep giving AB's.

He has another ear infection at the moment. The ENT dr saw him on Friday and said one ear was red but that he would not give AB's at this stage. This morning, I noticed DS had discahrge coming from his ear (yuck). It's a burst eardrum I guess and he seems more comfortable now (has been screaming at night). I will take him to the GP in the morning to get him checked. Will he need to take AB's now the eardrum has burst?

OP posts:

HenniPenni · 19/03/2006 20:40

Ask for antibiotic drops that can be put directly into the ear.

Heartmum2Jamie · 19/03/2006 20:45

I was told that if the ear drum bursts before Anti-b's are started, then there is probably no need for them. The pain should have subsided and the drum will repair itself naturally over the next week.

I do think that it would be worth seeing the gp though, as it may just be a little hole, where the fluid may leak out for days and you may want anti-b cover (it is very painful, I had the exact same thing about 6 weeks ago)

Crystaltips · 19/03/2006 20:49

Strikes me as too many infections in such a short time.

DD had this problm - and she needed vents/grommits.

Worked wonders - and allowed her to hear - as this was impaireddue to all the gunk behind the ear-drum.

This way you can avoid all the ABs

HTH

HappyMumof2 · 19/03/2006 20:52

which antibiotics has he been given in the past? dd had many ear infections last winter and was repeatedly given amoxicillan. I am pretty sure she doesn't respond to penicillan at all for some reason. The only one which actually worked for her was Co-Amoxiclav. They don't give it routinely but she had it for her last ear infection (a year ago) and never got another. She is now on it again and it has worked wonders on her throat infection & conjunctivitis as the standard drops weren't working for her.

I wonder if this is more common than most GPs let on? they seem to just keep giving the same antibiotics over & over.

I would think btw, that if the ear drum has burst they wouldn't give antibiotics.

dinny · 19/03/2006 20:57

think Co-Amoxiclav is the next broad-spectrum choice after Amoxycillin.

think the general thoughts on antibios for chronic ear infections are that they don't work.

have you thougt about seeing a homeopath, Bakeacake?

HappyMumof2 · 19/03/2006 20:59

what is his dairy intake like? is he on cows milk? at the time she had all the ear infections, dd was drinking a lot of cows milk. Since I've reduced her milk intake and replaced some of it with Rice Milk she has been infection free

Chapsmum · 19/03/2006 21:00

co amoxiclav is basically amoxil with an added ingreadient which makes the amoxil work loner.
Gentomycin drops can be used for adult ear infections but I'm not sure how appropriate they are in pediatrics

Hi dinny, hows the kids?

HappyMumof2 · 19/03/2006 21:03

Chapsmum, what is it that's added? I wonder why my dd doesn't respond to amoxicillan but does to co-amoxiclav. She's the same with eye drops - doesn't respond to Chloramphenicol but does to Exocin (ofloxacin)

Chapsmum · 19/03/2006 21:06

clavulanic acid which basically makes the action of the amoxil longer. ofloxin is different completely to chloramphenichol

HappyMumof2 · 19/03/2006 21:09

Thanks Chapsmum so she's not penicillan resistant?

dinny · 19/03/2006 21:12

same with ds when he's had antibiotics post his surgery. interesting reading.

Chapsmum, they are fine atm - ds has shitty cold and gummy eye but can cope with that! keep getting the fear that another abscess is going to appear soon. can cope with the op just am DREADING looking after the wound post-op it's just so difficult to keep clean and will even worse now he's older as it's impossible to even dress him atm. how the f... will I to sitz baths when his rear is in agony?
sorry for hijack, Bakeacake.

Chapsmum · 19/03/2006 21:16

happymumof 2, no not by anymeans, amoxicillin although penicillin based is not penicillin in its self.

I am prone to UTI's had had one that was amoxil resistant, the next one wasn't.
ven if she did get and infection that was amoxil resistant it does not mean the next on would be.

It does mean you should be very careful that she finishes any courses of antib's she gets.

Dinny, how rubbish.. Ask for prescriptions of instilagel, it is a local anasthetic gel made for the rear end which would numb things up before a bath etc it also has a mild cleaning agent in it. Give me a shout if you need a moan!

Original poster

bakeacake · 19/03/2006 21:18

Thanks for all the replies. Will definitely ask for antibiotic drops or co-amoxiclav. In the past he's been on mostly amoxycillin. Erythromycin upsets his tummy and I've heard bad things about augmentin which he's been on once.

Crystalyips- yes definitely too many infections. That's why we are now seeing ENT. They said he's too young for any ops at the moment. His immunity level is apparently on the lower end of normal too so this is probably a factor.

dinny- Yes I think a homeopath is a step we'll take very soon.

Happymum- was reading some of your threads in the archives. Yoh had a tough time last year. SOOO pleased that things have improved- gives me hope.

OP posts:

dinny · 19/03/2006 21:20

Amoxiclav (?) always seems to really upset ds's tummy and Amoxycillin doesn't.

CM, am praying it doesn't happen again (dh thinks I am totally paranoid and worrying too much). But if it does will be desperately asking you advice. Thanks for the tip re the gel. Were dishcharged with no instructions/medicine other than sitz baths and Caplol. v scary to see an unsutured wound and have to keep it clean.

Chapsmum · 19/03/2006 21:22

dinny, my e-mail address is dollyburd12 at hotmail dot com, mail me if you are stuck

dinny · 19/03/2006 21:22

Bakeacake, I always think there's nothing to lose by seeing a homeopath. Am definitely sceptical but have recently taken my ds for a couple of consultations.

Hope your ds's ear probs are resolved soon and sorry for hijacking Chapsmum from your thread!

dinny · 19/03/2006 21:23

thanks, CM - still haven't got round to mailing you yet from a few weeks ago. U on MSN?

HappyMumof2 · 19/03/2006 21:24

Thanks Chapsmum

bakeacake, yes, she had a miserable year last year but cutting down the milk seems to have really helped. Do try it, and also homeopathy seemed to help her. Hope things improve for your ds soon too the consultant did say to me they normally have 1 or 2 bad winters and then that's it.

dinny - dd suffered a really bad upset tummy and vomiting with co-amoxiclav last time but turns out GP overdosed her! she had two courses back to back, first one from hospital, 2.5ml twice a day, second from GP (at my request, silly cow....) but he got the dose wrong and gave her 5ml, 3 times a day!! at 16mths old!
She's back on 2.5mls twice a day now from the hospital and tolerating it fine.

Original poster

bakeacake · 19/03/2006 21:30

Happymum- he doesn't have that much cows milk. He is still on milk-free formula (he was intolerant as a young baby) as he doesn't eat very well (another factor probably)!!! So the only milk he has is a yoghurt and a few bits of cheese on an average day. Thanks for the tip though. We may cut back further if we get desperat.

OP posts:

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread