Hi Mamas,
My sixteen month old had recurrent fluid buildup and ear infections so we had tubes put in his ears when he was 13 months. It helped immediately but then brown goo started coming out of his ears and he was diagnosed with another ear infection. We did the ciprodex ear drops which were great but he continued to get the same symptoms every few weeks. The last go round the ENT said that he had a sinus infection which was creating the ear infection. The doc put him on Amoxillyn (sp?) oral antibiotic for TWO weeks and his phlegm went back to being clear (instead of green)but within 3 days of being off the antibiotics he has goo coming out of his ears and he is in terrible pain. This is so frustrating for all of us b/c as parents we are told over and over that this is common, infections are inevitable in the daycare setting, antibiotics are the only treatment blah blah blah. We have never had the experience of antibiotics solving the problem but I don't know what else to do. We thought about going to a chiropractor but we have heard that they can't do an adjustment if the child has tubes since it may dislodge the tubes. We wonder if this is all being triggered by seasonal allergies but maybe he is too young for allergy meds. And it would be ideal to do alternative therapy but we can't figure out how to solve it. We have been to a natureopath and tried herbs and cutting out dairy....no help. Any other suggestions out there?
My son also had ear infections constantly as an infant but he never got tubes in his ears. His nose was always draining snot and always had a hard time breathing normally at night. I went to an allergist when he turned 18 months. Since he has been on allergy medicine, he has not gotten an ear infection. It could be seasonal allergies. It could not hurt going to an allergist to check.
You may think I am totally crazy.. but my two year old has been suffering a chronic ear infection for 6 or more months now. We finally were told to have adnoids removed and tubes put in. I am fighting that battle because of the scar tissue and the money spent for something that is only a temporary fix. I started researching and found out that Chiropractic adjustments were given for babies with ear infections??? I thought -NO WAY, no one is messing with my babies spine. My husband told me I had lost my mind. But we went to visit for the first consultation, and it made so much sense to me. Why cant we fix the body the natural way, the way God intended us to? So we gave it a shot, Low and behold, after 3 weeks, one ear is clear, no more singulair, respiratory problems gone, acid reflux is better, and working on the left ear!!! Do you live in the East Texas area? I can get you to the right person. It is free for the first consultation!
L.,
If he keeps getting infections, to me that means his immune system is weak or overburdened and needs help. Was he breast fed or formula fed? Don't go the route of giving him antibiotics unless it's the last resort as it's not good for him and very hard on their little kidneys. Talk to your ENT Dr about putting a drop or two of peroxide into his ears for a few days. I had bad ear infections as a child and had a double mastoidectomy at 28 as a result - 7 operations on my ears. My ENT (professor at University of MD Med School) said I should try putting a couple drops of peroxide into my ears 2 a week. I gave it a try and I have not had an ear infection in over 12 years. It kills the infection on site. Most Dr.s Pedi's do not recommend this as it's old school medicine - but it works.
I would talk to the chiropractor about adjusting with the tubes. My daughter went through this at the same age (no tubes though), we went to the chiropractor and she never had another ear infection. My husband argues that is was coincidence. Its worth a try.
My oldest had to have tubes right after his 2nd birthday. We did fine for about the first 9 months and then he started getting the ear infections just as you described. We started him on an OTC allergy medicine. (We also eliminated all water play...hair washing was only done with plugs in his ears) Once we kept the water out of his ears and dried up the junk from his allergies, his ears cleared up quickly.
