I have been super fortunate and we just now have our first ear infection. What am I supposed to do? Last night was MISERABLE. DS (2.5) was up pretty much the entire night screaming his head off. Clearly it was his ear (he told me and has all of his teeth). Slept a bit this morning, no fever, still a bit off but not acting horribly sick today. Does have quite a bit of crusty discharge in his ear.
No doctors appointments to be had today, but the nurse line said we can go to urgent care if we thought it was necessary. Right now he isn't acting too sick, but I know that tonight it going to be bad again. I've seen some research that antibiotics are not actually usefully in ear infections, but it seems that is what most people do. I hate to see my poor guy suffer, and the advil and rice sock didn't help at all last night. Anyone have success with antibiotics?
Re: Ear Infections
DS has had tubes twice- tons of EI. Ear infections can help but isn't always necessary. Ibuprofen and Tylenol are a must though.
The AAP changed its guidelines last year.
ETA- this is a better article. Healthy Children is a website for parents created by the AAP.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/pages/Ear-Infection-Information.aspx
Married: 5/09 ~ TTC Since: 10/10 ~ PCOS ~ Progesterone from 10/10 - 2/11 ~ HSG on 3/18 - Clear ~ Started Metformin 1000mg & Clomid 50mg 2/11 ~ Metformin upped to 1500mg 4/6 ~ 6/7 Now going to SG and put on Clomid, Ovidrel, Gonal F, Prometrium, Estrace ~ IUI #1 7/2 = BFP!!!!!! March 6th our little man was born.
6/17/13 - Ovidrel, Follistim, Prometrium ~ IUI #1 7/2 = BFP! March 17th our St. Pattys day baby arrived
10/29/17 - Started process for IVF, got pregnant & miscarried a 2nd time since summer. 2/22 started stims - Menopur, Gonal F, Cetrotide - retrieval 3/6 - , PIO, estrace 3xday - FET 4/18 = Beta 1: 616; Beta 2: 1342 = BFP
Some EIs need meds, others do not. The AAP doesn't change it's recommendations without lots of very sound studies.
Antibiotics do zero for viral infections. The overuse of needless antibiotics is a huge issue.
Don't get me wrong- we have often had to resort to 2 rounds of abx for ear infections. I am simply saying an ear infection doesn't 100% mean antibiotics are needed. To need it or not is a conversation to have with your pedi and should be had with every prescription unless you 100% know it needs antibiotics.
Married: 5/09 ~ TTC Since: 10/10 ~ PCOS ~ Progesterone from 10/10 - 2/11 ~ HSG on 3/18 - Clear ~ Started Metformin 1000mg & Clomid 50mg 2/11 ~ Metformin upped to 1500mg 4/6 ~ 6/7 Now going to SG and put on Clomid, Ovidrel, Gonal F, Prometrium, Estrace ~ IUI #1 7/2 = BFP!!!!!! March 6th our little man was born.
6/17/13 - Ovidrel, Follistim, Prometrium ~ IUI #1 7/2 = BFP! March 17th our St. Pattys day baby arrived
10/29/17 - Started process for IVF, got pregnant & miscarried a 2nd time since summer. 2/22 started stims - Menopur, Gonal F, Cetrotide - retrieval 3/6 - , PIO, estrace 3xday - FET 4/18 = Beta 1: 616; Beta 2: 1342 = BFP
Not all ear infections are bacterial. Not all ear infections need antibiotics to treat them.
I am responding to "ear infections 100% mean antibiotics". That simply isn't the case. See the article I previously linked.
I am not anti antibiotics. I am, however, against using them needlessly. Doctors are very quick to write prescriptions instead of educating parents. The onus is on the doctors to be more aware and willing to talk to patients who want something that they may not need.
Excerpts of interest...including when antibiotics should absolutely be used.
In fact, ear infections are one of the most common reasons kids see doctors and the leading reason kids get antibiotics.
But about 70 percent of children get better on their own within two or three days, and about 80 percent are better within a week to 10 days, he says.
But even kids who really do have ear infections don't necessarily need antibiotics. The guidelines say doctors have the option of just watching kids who don't have intense pain, a high fever or other symptoms of a severe infection.
But there are some kids who definitely should get antibiotics, such as those ages 6 months to 2 years who have infections in both ears or any child who has severe symptoms, such as severe pain for several days and a fever of at least 102.2 degrees. Any child who has a ruptured eardrum should also get antibiotics, according to the guidelines.
...they can give parents a "safety net" or "wait and see" prescription and say: "Hold on to this antibiotic. Give some pain medicine the first day or two. And if they're not better after two days, then we do want you to let us know and start the antibiotic," Rosenfeld says. "But if they are better, just throw it out and they'll do fine."
Oh, no. That wasn't my intention. I just couldn't let the notion of it being automatic go unchallenged.
If it helps, I would have definitely go to the doctor and get the Rx and maybe even fill it especially coming into a weekend. I've done that many times. Sometimes we ended up needing it, sometimes not.
What did the doctor say? Lord knows, he's the professional and I am not.
But definitely, without a doubt, treat the pain
Oh sorry for my crappy phone typing skills. I meant that I'm second guessing going to the doctor. I had to wait around to see if the doc had any appointments open up. They didn't so the option is to go to urgent care (military). DS is still sleeping so I will make a decision when he gets up.
Both ear infections my LO has had high fevers 104 and in clear pain so I've never questioned the antibiotics.
But I agree they can be over used!
I don't mean to be a bitch but ... I struggle to understand why popping to urgent care isn't something you did last night.
FWIW once my DS had that crusty discharge - the EI had ruptured his ear drum. Poor dude. We had no idea he was sick. He didn't have a fever or anything he was just kind of a grump until it was too late.
I say go! Tell the doc you're concerned about unnecessary antibiotics and see what s/he says a good doc will know the guidelines and be able to advise you much better than the rest of us.
Sorry for the delayed update. I had been giving him pain relievers and his allergy meds that he usually only needs in the spring. Fortunately, he was able to sleep through the night no problem. We were very lucky, and no antibiotics needed - at least for now as the two kids keep bouncing this cold back and forth.
As to my decision to not take him to the ER in the middle of the night for an ear infection with no fever, I am fully confident in that decision, as I didn't/don't think that was necessary.
For what it's worth I didn't suggest taking him to the ER in the middle of the night. I said I'd take my kids to urgent care if they were - as you said "screaming his head off" all night.. Which a) is not the ER and b) implies that it would be morning (though I probably would've taken them to the all-night pedi urgent care during he night but that's my own issue with not wanting my kids to be screaming in pain. As someone noted - they can give ear numbing drops not just antibiotics).
So ... Yeah. It wasn't the judgement you jumped to. But I'm still glad you're comfortable with your choices. That's really the only thing that matters.
Yeah, no way would I ER for an ear infection unless there was blood.
But my kids have never had a viral ear infection, so we always end up with antibiotics. The only upside of that is at least the meds very quickly resolve it. I usually wait 2-3 days to take them in.
Never once did I suggest that someone skip antibiotics if they are needed.
I feel like I've said this eleven times but I was simply pointing out the inaccuracy of every EI needing antibiotics 100% of the time.
That's old school but the change in determining when to give antibiotics (see @MusicFillsMyHeart post) is rather new (2013). A lot of parents aren't aware. As a mom with a kiddo who had a ton of EIs, I liked knowing the clear determination so I could have a discussion with my doctor.
Unfortunately being military in a small town doesn't give me many options. Urgent care here closes at 7, which was prior to him waking up in pain. So, my option was the ER at that point. I called the ped in the morning, but no appointments. I have to get a referral to go to urgent care or I could go to the ER. Nurse wanted me to wait to see if an appointment opened up prior to go to urgent care. That was when I asked the question.
It all worked out, I appreciated the advice. Your post did read a bit judgy, but its ok, I can deal with it.
That is a sucky situation that those are your only options, I am clueless about military life. I can't believe they make you have a referral for urgent care! I definitely would have done the same thing you did given the situation.
Maybe next time ask the nurse for the numbing drops - I only know about thse after having gone through these miserable EIs (did I mention DS had them so often we got tubes, so I've been there! I feel you!) and I know you said this is a first.
We are lucky - there is an overnight pediatric urgent care near us, it's awesome and we have been there a bunch. But as I mentioned, I am really sensitive to my kids and the tears - like I can't even do "cry it out" when I'm quite certain it would be fine and probably get us all more sleep in the long run. I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying that's how I am.
Glad he's feeling better!
@kayteegee No worries. I do appreciate it and I know that I'm only presenting limited info. As this was our first EI, I am glad to know about the drops.
Yes, one thing I dislike about Tricare is that a lot of times they wind up pushing you to the ER. They are trying to get better about it with retroactive referrals, but a lot of times it is get an appointment on base or go to the ER.
I get it, it was me. I promise everyone that I was not ignoring my kid in pain. I called the doctor before he woke up, no appointments, needed to wait. He woke up and was not crying or complaining about pain and was playing and running around. If he had woke up and still been in pain I would've gone in immediately and fought insurance or gone to the ER. Realizing that EIs are usually worse at night I was asking advice.
I do appreciate the advice. I promise I am not some monster making my kid suck it up. Pretty sure we've got this all covered now:
@marlasinger& was saying go to the doctors, but you may not want to give antibiotics right away.
EI mama's super pro-antibiotics based on experience.
Pain drops good!
EI's = ouch