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doc says DS has "slight" ear infection. would you give antibiotics?
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Anonymous
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DS (6 mo. old) was antibiotics about three weeks ago for an infection on his penis (after several days of diarrhea). so, now ped wants to put DS on another round of antibiotics for what he labeled a "slight" ear infection. doc said it was up to me, that sometimes these things go away on their own. but, he recommended the antibiotics, given that DS has been congested off and on for about a month (the perils of day care, I guess). regardless of whether DS takes the meds, doc wants to see him back in a little over a week to recheck his ears.
I know that it may not be the best idea to jump to antibiotics every time kids display signs of infection, but I'm a first-time mom and nervous about making a bad decision. can some of the more seasoned moms out there offer their input? |
Anonymous
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My doc said the same thing to me recently. I filled the rx, and waited to see if DS developed a fever or showed signs of worsening. He did, and I ended up giving him the meds w/o checking again with the doctor first.
I say if your DS isn't showing signs of pain, or fever, and your Dr says it's up to you, I'd watch for something else before I gave him the antibiotics. But I wouldn't hesitate to give them if/when he seemed like his ear hurts even a bit. By going back in a week, you'll know he's okay either way. If he's in no pain, I'd play it by ear (pardon the pun) and watch him like a hawk, but if he's in pain, even a little at his age, I'd give it. |
Anonymous
| I wouldn't give the antibiotics. Give him baby motrin to relieve the swelling and fever and that should do the trick. |
Anonymous
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Ear infections clear up on their own - it's ESPECIALLY not worth it for a slight one.
Reserach has proven this again and again - why do some dr.s STILL push them for no reason??? |
Anonymous
| I would definitely give the antiboitics. I had a history of ear infections as a child. My son does as well. With us they do NOT clear up on their own. And despite taking antibotics regularly as a kid, I have never had any experience with having issues as an adult. While I wouldn't use them for a virus, I would have absolutely not issues doing so for an infection. |
Anonymous
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Yes, but ... many ear infections ARE viral, and antibiotics won't help.
I'm with the Motrin-as-needed, watch and wait camp. |
Anonymous
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OP here...
thanks PPs. I was freaking that this wasn't as common as doc made it out to be and that no one would respond to my post! (still, the thought of seeing my baby going under terrifies me. I start tearing up when I think about it.) if you don't mind me asking, PPs, where did your children have their surgery done? we have an appt. at Children's in DC. |
Anonymous
| oops! regarding previous post... I posted to the wrong thread. sorry! |
Anonymous
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Getting back to the topic at hand (I'm a PP). Ear infections might be triggered by a virus, but what I understand happens is that the virus causes fluid in the ear. Some young babies don't have a slanted enough ear tube so the fluid does not drain out (slant can be hereditary and can also be outgrown which is what happened with me). The build up of fluid then causes the ear infection which is an infection at that point not a virus.
I am the last sort of person to want to medicate (now that I am an adult and have logn outgrown my ear infections, I very rarely take tylenol let alone another medicine). But, I'm shocked by the number of watch and wait posts. Did your kids have ear infections themselves....or if they did maybe it wasn't the same as my experience? Without treatment (which we only experienced this once without treatment immediately) my son had a very high fever (103), vomited a number of times, and almost passed out (was extremely lethargic and pretty non-responsive). I just want to make sure OP has a picture of the other side as she makes her decision and does not get frightened if her child's infection worsens. That first time we did not treat immediately, I was very scared! Of course if this is your child's first one, watching and waiting might be okay...just be prepared for an emergency room visit if your child's condition worses after office hours (I'd be esp concerned given we are going into a holiday weekend - are you travelling at all?). |
Anonymous
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To the pp: That's the problem with overuse of antibiotics - parents hear these worst case scenarios and jump at the gun to give medications. OP clearly said that this was a SLIGHT ear infection with no other symptoms. Your case of a 103 degree + temp is quite another matter. I think we're all saying that she should reserve antibiotic use for SEVERE cases (such as the one your son had).
Overmedication is a real issue - I'm not surprised by people's reactions at all. |
Anonymous
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As to the antibiotic advice, I would probably wait and see. But probably wouldn't wait for very long if things took a turn for the worse. I learned with my son's first ear infection at 9 mos. that the new "wait and see" approach that we're all hearing about for ear infections doesn't really apply to the little ones.
As to the motrin, by doc said no motrin before a year. So I would definitely not medicate with motrin without talking to the doc. |
Anonymous
| This is a PP, just to temper the worst case scenario, my son didn't even get a fever with his ear infection. They're not all emergency room visits. |
zumbamama
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| I went to a holistic practioner in CA, and when my son had an ear infection, she used some kind of candle and funnel to dry up the mucus in his ear and pull it out. I kid you not, his ear went from red hot to normal within a few minutes. He has not had one since and that was years ago. But I don't know anyone in DC who does this. I think its called an ear candle, but I'm not sure. |
Anonymous
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OMG!!! I had totally forgotten about ear candling. YES, that does work sometimes. I received that treatment a couple of times in the early 70s in the Midwest, for ear infections. And later in college my BF did that in Santa Fe, for some sort of swimmer's ear-type thing. Worked for him, too.
I also wonder who might do that around here? |
zumbamama
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| I'd check holistic wellness centers, acupuncturists, herbalists. Tell me if you find one! I think there are home kits too, but not sure. |