This EXACT thing happened to us. My son had even been pretty healthy through a rough winter. But once the infections started, they kept coming back. It felt like it took forever to finally get the ENT referral. Even after the tubes, we still have issues, although not as bad.
So how does getting tubes work? I assume it's an outpatient procedure that requires general anesthesia. What's recovery like?
My son was a little more whiny and clingy that day. But yes, he definitely was pissed when he woke up. I felt so bad for him.
I also had a false hope that this would magically fix our sleep issues right away. It did not. But it did eventually get better.
Yes. LO had 7 EI in her first year. She got tubes at 15 months and only had one EI with the tubes. Since they have fallen out we have had a couple but they were not back to back and were treated and cleared up with antibiotics.
She would have raging infections though that the doctor would even comment on how swollen and red her eardrum was so antibiotics were always recommended.
We actually are taking her to audiologist in 2 weeks because she failed her 3 year old ear test. Because of all the infections they want to rule hearing loss out.
hmm it depends. When they had ear infections as infants, yes, though it was more like "this baby won't stop screaming, won't sleep, HELP ME" etc. then it would turn out to be an ear infection and our pedi does prescribe antibiotics for babies
My only experience with a non-infant and an ear infection so far was when two days before her 3 year well check my daughter started saying her ear hurt but like ... not crying that much about it. She still slept fine. I gave her tylenol and the doc took at look at her check up and said she did have one but it was mild/no pus and since she seemed to be dealing fine they wouldn't prescribe anything.
We've only dealt with one and I didn't take him in. His pain responded to Motrin and the fever only lasted a day or so. My doctoring ends at bandaids, Motrin and Gatorade. If I can't fix them with that (for any illness) we'll go in.
Post by lizard1131 on May 26, 2015 14:24:55 GMT -5
I did because they would only refer for tubes if they had been seen x times in 6 months or whatever their ridiculous 'rule' was, and they always give abx.
Post by hopecounts on May 26, 2015 14:35:39 GMT -5
DD has only had one (as far as we know) and she had a high fever so we got antibiotics. Given that she is already speech delayed I'm not willing to risk her hearing to an ear infection. We go in and let the Doc decide if abx are appropriate.
Yes. DS has perforated eardrums so we want to get them cleared up fast. He has granulated tissue right now and is on a steroid abx drop. His ear drums are a mess.
this one time my friends friends cousin just couldn't decide whether to bring her kid in or not for ear pain and while she was trying to decide a giant bird flew in the window and ate the child. So, don't take your time deciding either
I think the new standard is if it lasts longer than 3-4 days, then it should be treated. Even with that, depending on how the ear looks, it can go either way in regards to treatment. I wait for a couple days unless DD is screaming. I hate that people fight over this shit. I always want to yell "you are not a doctor, and can not assess it! Get off your high horse, asshole".
Post by bugandbibs on May 26, 2015 15:17:23 GMT -5
Depends on how they are acting and their temperature. I have hearing loss from back to back ear infections so I am fairly conservative. I usually check their ears with my otoscope and take them in if I see certain things.
I'm fine using antibiotics if they are needed and make sure they finish the full course.
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Post by ninjabridemom on May 26, 2015 15:21:24 GMT -5
My kids are usually asymptomatic for ear infections so no, I don't usually bring them in. So far 90% of the ear infections have been found because we were there for some other reason. We've done abx for all caught ear infections.
Recently, Marc was actually waking up in pain and his ear drum was close to bursting. So I'm super glad we brought him in then. Our pedi sort of wants me to bring them in for every runny nose, b/c it's a sign of an EI, but good lord. I'd be there all the time.
Post by DefenseAgainstTheDarkArts22 on May 26, 2015 16:18:15 GMT -5
This probably isn't adding at all, but I had horrible ear infections as a kid and even got tubes at some point. Now I have hearing loss in both ears from all the scar tissue. Needed a hearing aid before 30 because I sounded like my grandpa. "what was that? What did you say? Was it important? No, I give up."
Post by phoebebuffay on May 26, 2015 18:56:22 GMT -5
Yes, take them in.
1. Persistent middle ear fluid can cause permanent damage.
2. Middle ear fluid, even when not infected, can cause temporary hearing loss, which can affect speech and language development. It is so so important for your young children to have clear hearing during the critical years for speech development. When they have fluid, things sound unclear like they are under water. This will affect how they learn to produce the sounds.
There's a reason why that when a parent has speech/language concerns for their child, the first thing they check is the child's hearing. Hearing loss doesn't have to be permanent to cause problems.
Post by peachykate on May 26, 2015 19:09:08 GMT -5
Yes, DS had a rough go with his ears as an infant so I always took him until they put in tubes. We haven't had any issues since but if he complained I would take him in, I wouldn't push for abx but I would at least want them looked at.
Yes. She's had 4 ear infections since birth so far, and each time they've come with fevers and the doctor saying her eardrums were bulging and red. I hate, hate that she's already had so many rounds of antibiotics, but I'm not risking not treating the infections.
Unless any ear infections manifest like mine used to in a total loss of balance and coordination. Then I would.
But H and I are very:
It has very little to do with OMG NO ANTIBIOTICS!
This describes us pretty well.
As far as I know, my older kids have never had an ear infection. If LO ever exhibits symptoms I'll likely use the "wait and see" method and call in if symptoms persisted. I actually brought it up at a recent visit. I wasn't concerned about an ear infection, but I mentioned her teething and tugging on her ears, which I know is common. Her doc checked her ears and said all is well. She also said they don't always prescribe ABX for ear infections anymore.
I really struggling with figuring out if they have an ear infection. It seems each time I bring them there is no infection but then at their well checks they have had them the lasts few times. I cannot win. At this point, I try to wait it out to observe symptoms and then decide but I will bring them in, no problem, willing they seem irritated enough.