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Original poster

Ear infections and antibiotics! When NOT to use?

37 replies

Angeliz · 19/04/2006 15:31

Hello all.
Well what a crappy week. Shrot farcical holiday followed by some chill out time where dd2 (aged 13 months) seems to have oicked up a very nasty bug. Vomitting all night and diarohea(sp). I took her to G.P yesterday as her eyes rolled back in her head and i was worried about that.

My G.P was not available and saw a differet one who did a 20 second exam (no kidding) and then said 'oh one ear is red ' and prescribed antibiotics which may upset her tummy!!!!

I asked if she really needed them and he didn't reply!! Was mighty pissed off at being treat like a moron and told to do what i'm told.
Anyway, had a chat with Pharmacist who agreed with me that once her stomache had settled (which it still hasn't and she's on calpol constatly for fever and high temperature) theat it may be worth getting her re assesed then.

Am i being terrible with-holding the antibiotics?
It just seems like a bug to me and i know an ear infection could be the cause but i feel he's missed the symptoms!Sad

Sad and worried!
Any advice welcome.
I am intending to see my own G.P on Friday to check again and then if she needs them i'll give antibiotics but am loathe to at the minute!

OP posts:
Original poster
Angeliz · 19/04/2006 15:41

.

OP posts:
Enid · 19/04/2006 15:51

I rarely give them tbh

they are usually crap

so I would have doen the same

festiveface · 19/04/2006 15:53

has she shown any signs of earache?

makes me so mad, my surgery has G.p's like that Angry

foxinsocks · 19/04/2006 15:55

I don't think you're being terrible although part of me does think why take her to the GP if you're not going to take what he/she dishes out - but having said that, I've gone a few times and not done what they've said so I'm just as guilty!!

can't see the point in the antibs if her tummy is so upset

Original poster
Angeliz · 19/04/2006 17:22

foxinsocks, my G.P wasn't available and i trust 2 Doctors there to be totally thorough.
I just felt that he was too blase and didn't explain anything to me. I got more sense and info from the Pharmacist.
Thanks for your views. Felt awful withholding it but if my Doc tells me on Friday that she still needs them then i'll go ahead.

FF, no she has shown no signs of ear ache at all!

OP posts:
cece · 19/04/2006 17:26

DS has been given antibiotics and ear drops. I took him as he was not himself and had sickness. He apparently has an ear infection but the doc (who I have never seen before at emergency clinic) did at least look in his ears.

spacecadet · 19/04/2006 17:29

angeliz, opinion amongst doctors now is that children often recover no quicker on abs than without them and quite often the course of action for ear infections is to give pain relief, abs should only be given as a final port of call.

Original poster
Angeliz · 19/04/2006 17:31

thanks spacecadet, so me waiting for 3 days is really doing the right thing then? I actually read somewhere online today that antibiotics are only used after a 'wait a few days and see' approach!

I want her tummy to be better first anyway so i'm not just being anti-Docs or drugs.

OP posts:
cece · 19/04/2006 17:31

He was also given painkillers. 36 hours he is back to his sunny self! Smile

Original poster
Angeliz · 19/04/2006 17:33

Glad to hear it CeceSmile

Forgot to say, the Doctor was on about keeping fluids down her. DD is fine drinking just water, it's all she drinks infact and i told him this. He then proceeded to tell me to give her orange, Ribena or Coke!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Angeliz · 19/04/2006 17:34

Which i obviously haven't! I gave her a diarolyte(sp) yesterday but she wasn't keen.

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 19/04/2006 17:35

I totally agree with you angeliz (wasn't disagreeing before!)

I wouldn't want to give my kids antibs when their tummies were already upset - unless it's 100% necessary, it'll only make it worse

dd's ear infections (once they start to hurt her) are normally over and done with very quickly and I'm sure you would know if your dd was in terrible pain anyway

lockets · 19/04/2006 17:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

chapsmum · 19/04/2006 17:46

On a word of warning, middle ear infections have been liked to menigitus.
I would have the GP look in her ear. Ear in fectins can be viral or bacterial, if it is a bacterial infection and there is fluid behind the ear drum. antibiotics are indicated. I would take her back to get the GP to have a proper look in her ear.

Antibiotic drops can be used but I'm not sure about the suitability of your dd she is quite young.

chapsmum · 19/04/2006 17:48

Erythromycin is the only antibiotic guarenteed to give an upset tummy. The chap had amoxil and was fine. Give her probiotic yogurt as soon as you can and plently fluid/vitamins.

Original poster
Angeliz · 19/04/2006 20:09

thanks all.
Chapsmum, am taking her back on Friday to se my own G.P. (well hopefully as you have to book an appointment at 8.30 in the morning and they're usually all taken, though apparently no-one has priority and they won't let you book in advance)

Don't understand it myself!

OP posts:
Twinkie1 · 19/04/2006 20:13

My best friends daughter is deaf in one ear through the doctor not dealing with ear infections properly and giving her antibiotics so I would give them to her tonight and then demand to see a different doctor tomorrow and tell him your concerns - surely the 3 doses you need to give here before tomorrow would not harm her that much - DD had 1 ear infection which she was prescribed drops for (completely pointless as at 16 months she wouldn;t keep still enough for them to go right into her ear and I asked for oral antibiotics!!) and we went on hols and her eardrum ruptured which was grosse and so painful for her - foul smelling puss burst forth and made me puke and her scream for ages!!! - sorry after scaring the shit out of you I would deffo go and see another doctor or a health visitor!! - or haven;t you got a nurse practitioner who you could just check with!??

Original poster
Angeliz · 19/04/2006 20:18

Oh Twinkie, that's the kind of story i was dreadingSad

TBH though, the only reason i took her to the G.P was because her head flopped back at one point and her eyes rolled in her head. That freaked me out but if it wasn't fot that, i wouldn't have taken her anyway as i thought it was just a tummy bug. She has no discharge and no tugging at ears or even scratching them! Roll on FridaySad
Really want to wait till her tummy settles anyway and she still had horrendous dairohea(sp) tonight!

OP posts:
spacecadet · 19/04/2006 20:21

have just re-read your post, did the gp actually look in the ear?

Original poster
Angeliz · 19/04/2006 20:22

He did look in the ear and said 'mmm unfortunately it's red'

OP posts:
spacecadet · 19/04/2006 20:24

oh i see, sounds like it is a bit infected then, but could be secondary to a viral infection.

lockets · 19/04/2006 20:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Angeliz · 19/04/2006 20:27

Do you still think it's alright to wait till Friday for her tummy to recover and then get her ear checked again?
Of course if they still say it needs a.b's i'll start immediately.

OP posts:
lockets · 19/04/2006 20:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Angeliz · 19/04/2006 20:35

Thanks Lockets.
You worry whatever you do don't you?Sad
Really hope your dd2 feels better soon.
After a brilliantly healthy first year, dd2 seems to be hit with anything and everything these last few weeks. Poor little mite!

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