What can I do about an ear infection other than anti-biotics?

[bran]

I have yet another ear infection, my second in 8 weeks. I get itchy and swollen ears from tree-pollen hay fever at this time of year, my right ear has been swelling shut on and off for a few weeks but now it's tipped over and become sore and pus-y.

I really, really don't want to have another round of anti-biotics as the last lot gave me thrush for the first time in my life (followed by another outbreak of thrush 2 weeks ago), which was almost worse than the ear infection. What else can I do?

My dd had recurrent ear infections and ended up having 4 lots of anti-biotics in 5 months. We took her to a homeopath (sp) last October. Although she's had quite a few colds since then, which often lead to ear infections, she hasn't had any at all!

I'd heard good things about the effects of homeopathy (sp) on ear infections which is why we decided to give it a go.

Homeopathy with a qualified consultant worked wonders for my ds1 whio suffered badly with ear infections and completely cleared glue ear/ear infections for ds2 during his vaccinatons as a baby. Poor you. Also maybe a referral to an ent specialist also.

Thanks littlefish and mountaingirl, I'm afraid I don't believe in homeopathy. Although if it keeps happening I might try it out of desperation.

Hopefully this will be my last one of this year as I don't get summer hayfever and the tree pollen season should be finished in the next few weeks (at least I hope so, it started early this year so I'm hoping it will finish early).

ds3 kept/keeps getting ear infections and burst eardrums (5 burst since November!). I completely avoid antibiotics with him as I know he has a dodgy gut. Actually when he was hospitalised (febrile convulsion from the ear infection) the hospital wouldn't give antibiotics anyway. I eventually got round to booking him an appointment at the homeopath and did a bit of cranial osteopathy (not easy with him), and nothing since. Will get the proper test this week as he's starting with a cold again.

I get similiar or did from sensitivity to shampoo and the like. Anyway, every morning I dab a bit of sudocreme in each ear with a cotton bud and it seems to keep everything at bay.

You'll probably have to have ab's to clear this lot up, but try sudocreme or vaseline afterwards and see if that helps

Try ear oil. You can get it from Fresh and Wild and I am not sure where else. It is very stinky - probably as it has so much garlic in it - and you put a few drops in each ear for a few days. It is great.