recurring ear infections. I feel awful.

[Anonymous]

since DS has been in day care (started Nov.), he has had cold after cold. and, he's on his second round of antibiotics for ear infections. I had resisted antibiotics at first, but things got worse. now, I regret holding off on the antibiotics. his current infection is making him miserable, with temps near 102 for nearly three days. doc says if temp is still high tomorrow to call. (we were in her office yesterday.)

I guess I'm part-venting and part-seeking advice/consolation. who has been through this? what can you tell me?

thanks.

[Anonymous]

Been there, done that - it IS awful. Don't really have any advice unfortuntely, other than try to make sure your daycare provider REALLY cleans all the toys & surface areas every night. I think our center is pretty good about that - but colds are still inevitable. I also think it's luck of the draw regarding ear infections though -- my DD 1 got an ear infection with every cold her first year -- DD 2 is 7 months old and has had 3-4 colds (also in daycare) and has not had an ear infection - knock on wood.

Things sort of turned around with DD 1 after she turned 1. I know people are anti-antibiotics for all the reasons you read about - but I always got DD 1 antibiotics - the turn around was usually within 24 hours and made a world of difference in her sleep (and ours), eating, etc. I can't see denying a baby that when they have a legitimate bacterial infection.

[Anonymous]

We had lots of ear infections. 5 or 6 before he was 8 months. Several rounds of antibiotics didn't help. So I refused to give him more antibiotics. The infection took the same time to clear. The ENT wanted to put tubes in.

I was weary of having surgery on such a little one. Plus they wanted me to not feed him from midnight on (this in a breastfed baby who ate every 2 hours even at night!) (And the latest (1999!) anesthesia guidelines say it's OK to nurse up to a few hours before surgery).

So we went to an osteopath. 2 sessions and we were all set. (The osteopath wanted us to come back, but I didn't want to, and there were no more infections.) We had one more infection after the first osteopath visit and none since the second visit, more than 1 year ago.

Osteopathic manipulations for children's ear infections are pretty common in Europe, at least in France. The second time was amazing: baby had a fever before the session, but much less after!

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

maybe look into a nanny, or if too pricey, a nanny share. The daycare sickness problem isn't going to go away so you need to eithe make a change or just realize that you are going to have to deal with this for a few years. The bright side..most likely your child will have the resistance of a warrior by the time school starts.

[Anonymous]

my two year old started preschool this year and has been sick non stop. he's probably been home as many days as he's been in school. he's currently home with a sinus infection and an ear infection and 101+ for five days. i'm beginning to rethink having him in school 5 days a week although i've heard he has to go through building his resistence at some point. wondering if there are ways to make it any easier...i'm ready to think about cutting back days or something.

[Anonymous]

9:41 poster - can you please tell us (me, specifically) more about the osteopath. Where did you find him/her? And, importantly, what did the "treatment" involve?

My DD has had 2 ear infections (she's 8 mos.), always following colds (daycare, part-time). She has a wicked cold now and so we are on the lookout again. Antibiotics cleared up both infections very quickly. But, I'm wondering about other alternatives.

Also, does anyone have any thoughts on when the ear infections start to decrease in these little ones? I realized I don't have it too bad with our girl. But, is there something that happens biologically that makes them less prone to these things as they get older?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

We had the same issues when my son started daycare -- he had 3 months of recurring ear infections and associated rounds of antibiotics. He also ended up with significant fluid built up in his ears which was affecting his hearing. At 1 year old he had tubes put in and it has been great.

Yes, its scary to give a child general anesthesia. But it is a really simple and quick procedure and they recover really quickly. So don't rule it out if it comes to that. My son has never had another ear infection and he is now only 2 1/2 and still in daycare and I really believe that his resistance is already very much stronger. Yes, he still has frequent colds but they are milder and go away quicker. The bouts of ear infections, pink eye, sinusitis, strep etc (and he had them all in year 1) are very, very rare. So, I say - hang in there with the daycare if you are happy with the care and how it works with your lifestyle. And don't feel guilty about waiting on the antibiotics. Doctors today are so antibiotic averse it is hard not to be worried about them.

[Anonymous]

To PP, cutting back days at preschool won't likely solve the problem. DD only goes to day care three days/week and it's enough to pick up the germs.

I've been dealing with this issue myself as DD has chronic ear infections, even with tubes in place. What the ENT has said, in our case, is genes play a huge role. I had EIs until I was 4-5 years old. He said DD will likely have them that long as well. Much has to do with the anatomy of the ear and how well they can drain the fluid.

My guess is your child will either get colds now or later. The exposure will come at some point.

[Anonymous]

My DS has had the same problem. 4/5 (not clear in the last one was one long infection or 2 separate ones) infections in less than a year. I did think about a Nanny after ear infection #3 (was one we caught late so resulted in high fever), but that was around when he turned one and was really beginning to enjoy the social interaction at daycare. Plus, at that age I would want him in playgroups/classes if he was with a Nanny and since being prone to ear infections is hereditary, I thought the ear infection risk would remain regardless...

At this last infection, I asked my pediatrician for a referral to a Ears, Nose an Throad specialist (ENT) and we went to see Dr. Jack Williams about a week ago - he is great and I would highly recommend him (he is in DC - on 19th steet)! He did not push us to do the tubes as I expected and plans to watch the next infection and decide from there. I had ear infections as a child and I did outgrow them at around 3 I believe. Dr. Williams explained to me that some kids outgrow them at around 2...others may take longer.

Good luck - this is hard. My advice is to see an ENT specialist, just to get their advice. Does not mean that they will immediately push you in the direction of tubes...

[Anonymous]

My DD, who is now 3, had several (4, maybe 5, I've now lost track) ear infections the first winter she was in daycare. We were all sick all the time. It was miserable. However, it's never been as bad as that first year. It's all an immunity building exercise, and it's going to happen sooner or later. I know it's really rough, but hang in there. It does get better, really.