Antibiotics-good or Bad???

Can they give him antibiotic ear drops? I too got worried about the amount of antibiotics my little guy was on before he got tubes put in. I felt more comfortable using the ear drops, that way all of his "good" bacteria were not getting killed off. They are way more expensive, but may be worth a try. Hope he is feeling better soon!

My sons last ear infection was "healed" with out antibiotics. We went through the weekend. He went to the doc with a fever and they did not see the infection on a Friday or Sat (can not remember exactly) then took him back on Monday, there was an infection but his fever had already broken and he was on the mend. That was his last ear infection, about a year ago. Too much antibioitcs is bad for them, so you might want to ride it out. switch between Motrin and Tylenol ever 4-6 hrs (when awake) and go from there.

Good luck.

I'd look into allergy testing. Also would suggest going to see a pediatric ear, nose & throat specialist. They look at things a little differently than general doctors and adult ents where antibiotics, tubes, etc. are concerned.

Good luck!

Hi Jen
It's not that antibiotics are "bad" because sometimes they are needed. It's the constant use of them that is not so good. They destroy all the bacteria in the colon not just the ones causing the infection. So to keep healthy your little one may need to be on a probiotic to help put back some of the good bacteria the anitbiotics are killng. Jen I am in Shaklee and I am sure that I can help you with this issue. Sometimes that scares people away and I truly feel I can help you from anymore antibiotics. Looking forward to hearing from you. S.

I am very passionate about this subject!
Antibiotic overuse and misuse have lead to the development of multiresistant strains of bacteria that can be devastating to just about anyone but effect our children and elderly most.

Other countries have started being much more responsible in their use of abx and have all but eliminated germs like MRSA. (look up norway/mrsa on google...)

I posted this on another post today to show the difference in simply medical opinion:

My daughter went for 8 or 10 rounds of antibiotics for ear infections in an 8 month period around her first birthday - until we traveled abroad for a vacation and got her checked out there. The doctor (a regular pediatric doctor in Europe) was horrified to hear the treatment regimen and prescribed a mucolytic and medicated nosedrops to reduce the swelling in her sinuses and help the fluid drain from her ears. They do NOT routinely prescribe abx unless it is absolutely necessary.

My personal experience leads me to believe that US doctors may not have the latest information that is internationally available for the treatment of ear infections in infants... in addition the drugs we were prescribed are not available in infant doses in the US... really quite sad.
We brought an ample supply and will refill (these are OTC meds) when we go back. I usually give my daughter just one dose of nosedrops and mucolytic when she gets nasal congestion and that has really kept it at bay.I also keep her nose irrigated with saline during those times. We cleared this with our US pediatrician by the way, who agreed that it was ok.

We had been talking about getting tubes after our return from vacation, but after being treated in Europe my daughter's ear infections did not return. It's been more than one year now.

Antibiotics are a good thing. They have saved millions of lives and are the reason that we now have a longer life span, lower child mortality and do no longer have to be afraid of dying if simple bacterial infections. But if we use them incorrectly, they will become useless and even today there are people dying of infections with strains like MRSA, because all of us and our doctors do not use antibiotics correctly and WAY to often!

Milk is the most common allergen and can be the cause of all the ear infections. Your doctor won't tell you that but a nutrition book will. When my daughter says her ear hurts I warm a bit of olive oil, put crushed garlic in it and put a couple drops in her ear. That has worked every time. Garlic is a great natural antibiotic. This isn't to say don't use antibiotics because they do have their place.

Hi Jen,
I really don't think anyone can dispute that antibiotics have their place. They have saved many lives and have prevented much illness. That being said, I am one that is leary of giving them to my child. He is 2.5 years old and only had them once when he had a severe strep infection that had his fever over 103 degrees. Do I think they are overprescribed? Absolutely. Have I had issues of my own with antibiotic resistance? Yes, I have. I think, as a culture, we need to shift more to thinking about how to prevent health problems, rather than always looking for a quick cure. Unfortunately, insurance only covers "cures" and not prevention. It's really a shame.
My son has never had an ear infection (thank goodness!), so I cannot speak to whether or not your child needs antibiotics. But, you might want to look into some alternatives that you can try to help keep his ears healthy and avoid more infections in the future. Have you considered consulting a homeopathic doctor? Or someone that works with alternative medicine? We worked with a chiropractor for the first year of my son's life because he had some health problems. It really helped. I know breastfeeding is supposed to help prevent ear infections, though it's too late for that now, but might be helpful to keep in mind in the future for other children. I would also be sure to give your son LOTS of probiotics to help get some healthy bacteria back into his system that was most likely lost while he was on antibiotics. This will help his digestive system, and also help prevent any potential problems with yeast. (I've had a lot of issues with yeast in my life, as a side effect of antibiotic usage).

Good luck to you and your son,
T.

The repeated ear infections are tricky. Usually, I try to wait it out, to see if it relieves itself on its own. Of course, when it goes full blown infection, it is really hard to say no to meds.

However, I really do try to avoid antibiotics whenever possible. Bacteria becoming antibiotic resistant forces me to be patient, and allow the body to attempt to fight stuff off on its own. I've nearly lost one child to septic shock. I want those antibiotics to work when we REALLY need them.

I suggest talking to the doc a bit more in depth when you are there next. Let them know you are worried about over usage of antibiotics. Alot of docs prescribe due to parental pressure. See if you are on the same page about avoiding them when possible. And, hopefully, once you do surgery, it will alleviate the issue. I know tubes were very helpfull for our oldest kiddo.

I think you're being reasonable. We got my daughter the ear tubes because she was on something like 60 days of antibiotics in 90 days for recurrent ear infections.

If you have ear tubes lined up, I'd just do the antibiotics for now, because you don't want him to have a long-term infection until then. If he's not going to have tubes put in, you might want to look into that. They've been a lifesaver! Hopefully then the question becomes moot. Good luck!

I feel your pain, I feel the same way. I don't want to use medicine if I can help it. Do a little research or stop at your local natural food or vitamin shop and see what they have. Mullein ear drops are an alternative and has natural antibiotic properties. I use them on myself and my son if I suspect an ear infection. I've heard of a few other things, but don't really have any experience with them - so ask questions at the shop and do some research online. there are other alternatives to try if you are uncomfortable with the treatment suggested.

Good luck,

A. v.

I suggest that you take him to see a chiropractor. So many of our ailments are caused by our bodies being out of whack.

IMO, antibiotics are way overprescribed. I think doctors are slowly coming around to the thinking that medicine may not always be the best course of action. Many times ear infections will resolve on their own. Of course, each situation is different. If you think he's getting too many antibiotics, I encourage you to try chiropractics. A good chiropractor will be able to tell you if your son needs an adjustment. Also, look for one that does localized treatment instead of the older ones that just crack and pop anything and everything.

Good luck to you and your son!

I don't think you are being irrational. Antibiotics are good when needed but they are definately overused!! My daughter was on 2 different antibiotics for a sinus infection and got a horrible intestinal infection. The antibiotic destroyed all the good bacteria in her intestines and she got Clostridium Difficle (C. Diff). This was a horrible infection that lasted 5 months!! We had to take her to several specialist and she had an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy when she was only 2 years old!! She has not had any antibiotics since!!!! I don't want her to have them and no doctor will prescribe them either!!! Normally C. DIff is cured in 7-10 days with an intestinal antibiotic and my daughter's case may be an exception.
My advise would be avoid antibiotics if possible, our immune systems would be stronger if allowed to fight this stuff off without antibiotics!!!
Good luck!!!

You have to go see in Dr CHeryl Leuthauser in Richfield. SHe is awesome. She is an osteopath and an MD and treats lots of kids. My daughter had probably too many antibiotics as a child and now we are dealing with some health issues that I now antibiotics contributed to. Mainstream doctors are too quick to give antibiotics with ear and sinus infections. My daughter now has immune issues. My daughter is now a teenager and unable to be involved in activities because of fear of someone carrying a germ that will get her real sick. I only use antibiotics as a last resort. There is a probiotic that you can take as a staple to help ensure your good cells are thriving to fight off infections. The majority of the immune system is in your gut. If you have a strong immune system it can fight off the bad stuff. Dr CHeryl is awesome. SHe has helped me and 2 of my kids.

Hi Jen,

I try not to take/ give too many antibiotics to myself/ children. I agree that antibiotics are good for bacterial infections, but we are seeing how they are used too much, because we now have resistent strains for illnesses.

I say good for you.

R. Magby

when it comes to ear infections, you should take the prescribed antibiotics until finished. sometimes a 2nd round is needed. for ear infections specifically, you should never play around with. good luck

I agree antibiotics aren't grand to repeat over and over and over again BUT I've been in your place. In my sons 7 years there have been two winters, a couple years apart from each other, that he was sick with sinus infections and ear infections, one right after another. It would take 5-7 days to get better, antibiotic would be finished completely and within a week he would be sick...AGAIN... I gave antibiotics. His suffering, and both of our lacks of sleep b/c he couldn't sleep, wasn't worth it to me at the time. I was a single mom, I worked two jobs and I was in school full time. I added in not sleeping and even my best friend couldn't stand me ;) We did everything to prevent ear infections--checked for milk allergy, never ever gave anything to drink in bed/laying down, used ear drops, tried to wait it out and asked every mom under the sky for their advice.
So, thus far long term affects, he does have VERY min. hearing loss but does not need assistance and does GREAT in school. There are still antibiotics out there for us to use and he rarely gets sick now. He is a great reader and not a huge talker. He does need speech b/c some of his letters are still not clear--sometimes I think he still has fluid build up! :(
Are they doing PE tubes also? I HIGHLY suggest it!! LIFE savers!
On the offer of the antibiotic--I took the prescription multiple times and never filled it. It was better to have it in my hand and get it when needed vs paying another co-pay.

before you resort to ear tubes i suggest going to a chiropracter. there is something they do that helps fluid int eh ear and sinuses flow better. a few years ago my daughter had recurrent infections and someone suggested i take here to one. i also had ear tube surgery scheduled for a month away. i let the chiropracter do her work and withina couple weeks she was doing so much better we canceled the surgery. there is a time and place for antibiotics, and it really can get to you when your child is crying becasue her ear hurts so much. but it was only a temporary fix with us to use antibiotics. it's been two years and she hasn't had an ear infection since going to the chiropractor. i started going too and it's helped tremondously with my sinus problems. don't rule it out, and don't jump into surgery too fast, there are tons of risks with that as well.

There is a lot of different opinions here regarding antibiotics. I will add one thing: if you trust your pediatrician, then give the meds when prescribed or ask to be referred to an ear, nose, & throat specialist. I know of someone who refused antibiotics for their child, and the baby's infection spread clear down into his shoulder and he almost lost his arm. Granted, this parent was a bit extreme in believing that natural cures & healing (I'm all for that in the right place) are the only way to go. We have to try to find the right balance and do what is right for our children.

Yes he need antibotics. But your ped should be switching him each time to prevent drug resistance. Unsually if an antibiotic is not working well within 3 days you need to call and have the drug switched. Now my son just had the surgery a couple of weeks ago and I can't believe the doc let you walk out without a script. You need to have him as healthy as possible for the surgery. Also they will give you one and you need to make sure he takes it after the surgery. The more inflammed his tonsils and anoids are the rougher the recovery. It took my son a full two weeks to get back to his normal self. Also definately get the pain releiver they give flavored. I now it cost more but its worth it. I learned the hard way.

I am going to throw out a different opinion that will probably get attacked. There are many reasons to use antibiotics. Occasionally with recurrent infections you do want to use antibiotics past the apparent infection resolution. This makes sure that the infection is truly resolved and not just reduced. By refusing the script you potentially set your son up to have the infection return after a very short period since it never completely resolved. There is a huge problem with antibiotic resistant, but a large portion of that blame lies with the patients taking the medication. People do not take them as ordered - not long enough or at the correct dose. They stop taking or giving the medication as soon as the symptoms resolve. Just having the symptoms improve does not mean the infection has truly resolved. When the infection is not gone you leave the stronger bacteria behind to multiply and then you do end up with super bugs. Just another 2 cents that I am sure will be attacked.

Antibiotics destroy friendly bacteria. That is why they tell you not to take them for more than two weeks. If you DO take them, add things like yogurt BACK into the diet to help put friendly bacteria IN. This way, you can help build UP your immune system.

In all my years of research and working with clients (over 30), I've NEVER found anything good come out of situations where people were on antibiotics for extended periods of time and or repeatedly over the years.

Lots of info out there to support this as well as the fact that I've come across numerous clients over the years w/ a variety of issues that could easily be related to extended antiobiotic use.

What about using some natural remedies to relieve the stuffiness, like eucalyptus oil? Might want to get a copy of The Encyclopedia of Natural Health and Healing for Children by Weber.

The majority of pediatricians now only prescribe antibiotics for true bacterial ear infections. In the past docs have prescribed them for any little cold, sneeze, cough, earache coming into the office, but this practice has changed in recent years. You state he is scheduled for surgery soon. This tells me he has had some significant infections recently. Chances are the infections will all but cease soon after. Stay the course, things are set to improve! As for the chiropractor suggestion, what a bunch of bull. These practitioners are excellent choices for musculoskeletal problems, this from a family member who is a chiropractor. They cannot cure infertility, medical problems, constipation, etc-though some of them think they can. Next someone will suggest voodoo for all medical problems.

Dear Jen,
Antibiotics are not a bad thing. Not at all. However, they can be over prescribed for things that are actually viral, which antibiotics have no effect on. Some people think they need an antibiotic for every little thing and it's just not the case. Some doctors are all too happy to comply without a blood test to confirm infection in the system.

Since your son has had recurrent infections, it's probably for the best that he's been given antibiotics. And, you should talk to the doctor about whether or not they can do the upcoming surgery if he already has infection in his system. It may be why they wanted to do the second course.
I was scheduled for an operation and they got me in my room and took my vitals and I had a fever of 102. They did blood work and cancelled the procedure and put me on a course of antibiotics because they wouldn't touch me with infection in my system.
Your son is 23 months old. I don't think he's had so many antibiotics that you need to worry about it at this point. You need to get his ears cleared up.

I think you're smart to be concerned about the over use of antibiotics, but in this situation, your son likely needs them.

I hope that you get some great responses and that your son's ear infections will diminish after his procedure.

Best wishes!

I am a nurse (not a doctor) but imo, I think the first round would be sufficient, unless there is still an infection or it returns within a couple days after the antibiotic was stopped. Ask your doctor specifically why he thinks another course is necessary (more than just long recovery). Maybe he wants to make sure he is germ free before the surgery. Try treating the stuffy nose around the clock to keep it from spreading to his ears. Of course, lots of fluids, etc, also.

I do believe there is a place for any medications, not just antibiotics, but I also am a firm believer that people are using them as a first response, not a last resort. Studies have shown that antibiotics are not always necessary for ear infections (even bacterial). Keep in mind, I said "not always", because sometimes they are. My stance for myself and family is to only use medication (any kind) as a last resort, even though I was raised in a family that uses meds to cure even an out of sort day, not even real symptoms. :)

Hi Jen - antibiotics are life savers but of course, they can also be overused. I have found in my experience that docs are often not aggressive enough sometimes with antibiotics and the infection returns. We had this experience going to urgent care for a bad sinus infection in my 3yr old.

Also - our doc prescribed exactly same regimen that one poster said isnt available in US for my son's sinus infections. My doc for me as well. I'm a little confused by what she meant in her post. Guafenisen (Mucinex) is one of the most commonly used mucolytics - doctor can give you dosing info for kids 6mos - 2 yrs that are not listed on the package instructions. You might also ask your doc to teach you how to do sinus washes on your son.

Jen,
I think you are being wise. With antibiotics the good bacteria is killed along with the bad. This negatively affects the immune system and sets up a vicious cycle.
If you are interested, I can give you a website where you can listen to audios on health issues. There is a great one on children's health. I would post the site here, but someone reported me for advertising. It is not my website!
I can also give some good resources for probiotics.
I think this was an important topic to have a discussion on. Thanks.
Victoria