My daughter regularly gets ear infections after she has had a cold. She doesn't get sick often but every time she has been ill it results in an ear infection. Last week she had the flu and she now has symptoms of an ear infection. I am concerned about the over-use of antibiotics and trying to decide whether or not to take her in or wait it out a day or two to see if she gets better on her own. She has had a 101 fever for 1 day now and mild to moderate pain from the ear infection, both which resolve completely with the use of motrin or tylenol but return when the medicine wears off. I called the dr. and they basically said if I wanted antiobiotics I could come in, and if I wanted to wait and see, I could since it could be viral and resolve on its own and she is not in that much pain. Does anyone have any experience or advice on whether to wait it out or just get the antibiotics? Thanks!!
I personally try to avoid antibiotics for both myself & my children whenever possible. They are overprescribed by Dr.'s wanting to cover their butts (understandably in our sue happy society). If you are able to manage her symptoms without them, I would suggest giving it a couple of days to see if it will clear on it's own. I've waited on my children and they usually do.
Hi Robyn,
I feel for you. My 11 month old DD is currently on antibiotics for her 5th ear infection. My doctor said she'll probably need tubes put in her ears and gave us a referral. I don't think the meds are anything to worry about, it's what she needs to feel better faster. Good Luck.
My son too, suffered from ear infections every time he got a cold. What I did was request a referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist. By doing this we found out my son had allergies that usually triggered the cold symptoms and eventually the ear infections. So, by treating the allergies we have avoided any issues with infections.
We were told previously at Urgent Cares and the ER that he would need tubes eventually and I was thankful when the ENT told us that this surgery is not usually necessary and not always helpful. He said many times it was better and more effective to remove tonsils/adenoids rather than to tube ears.
But, one of the amazing things I found out was Hyland's makes an ear infection drop that eased all pain and discomfort long enough for my son to heal without antibiotics.
check out this link for some helpful suggestions...
http://www.drgreene.com/21_163.html
Also, no matter what I've always stuck with the 3-day rule. If the symptoms last longer than 3-days then I enlist the help of the doctor.
If the antibiotics have cleared up the ear infections in the past, please get them for your daughter, especially if she seems to be in pain. My son had chronic ear infections (just about every 3 weeks) from 5 months old until we got tubes at 12 months old. Poor thing would roll around at night b/c the fluid in his ears was so uncomfortable. It was awful.
I totally agree about overuse of antibiotics but ear infections can be very painful - please use them if they will help your daughter feel better and clear up the infection. Try to see an ENT soon - they will help to figure out the solution to this. Good luck!
