Do you give DC antibiotics for ear infections?

omurray

DS is 4 and just dx with an ear infection today.  DH and I have thought he's been fighting a little cold for the last week or so.  Today, out of the blue, his ear started hurting and he went from fine to screaming in pain in a matter of 15 minutes.  We went immediately to the pediatrician who confirmed that his ear is infected.  She said she would prescribe an antibiotic mainly because DS was in so much pain, but said many times ear infections clear up on their own.  We gave DS motrin and the pain went away once that kicked in.  He was fine the rest of the night.  I plan to give him more motrin right before I go to bed tonight, but now I'm questioning whether to start the antibiotic tomorrow or wait it out if he's feeling okay.  We didn't start it tonight because I didn't want to give it to him right before bed in case of allergic reaction (which he's had before).  WWYD?

DevonPow

DS is on them right now - he has an awful chest cold and ear infection. Our pedi is pretty conservative with medication, but gives antibiotics when an ear infection is severe enough (not sure what constitutes that...). This is his 3rd EI and each time he has taken antibiotics. I'm not too worried....I don't feel like he is on them excessively, and DS is MISERABLE with an EI, even with Motrin.

shiloh17

My ds is on amoxicillin for an ear infec. He has only ever had an ear infec. as an infant, so he hasn't been on antibiotics since. He also has bronchitis, so he needs the meds. I side with the pedi., if they feel antibiotics are warranted, then I give it. My pedi isn't a huge med pusher, so I know its not over-prescribed.

prism207

If Sam had a fever with the ear infection we used antibiotics.  And he always ended up with a fever when we tried to wait it out, so we always ended up with them.  

 

goodheartedmommy

Ethan got several when he was younger, and even had one this year. He's had antibiotics for it once. I generally give 72 hours to see if it improves on its own at all, which it always does for us. I do give motrin/tylenol for pain.

KoriBrett

Yep.  Got to the point where they'd skip the lower 2 tiers & go straight to Omnicef.  He's on his 2nd set of ear tubes, though, it's been lovely lol

omurray

KoriBrett:

Yep.  Got to the point where they'd skip the lower 2 tiers & go straight to Omnicef.  He's on his 2nd set of ear tubes, though, it's been lovely lol

Interesting.  The doc was one we haven't seen before and she prescribed Omnicef.   The practice has multiple docs and since our appt wasn't scheduled in advance we didn't get to pick the doc.  I did question her about why we were doing Omnicef since he's never had that before and she said its better for ear infections.  We still haven't give it.  DS slept great last night (we did wake him at 9pm for more motrin) and has zero pain this morning. 

KoriBrett

They did that because for a year straight, amox never did diddly, and augmentin only worked half the time.  We were at the pede's office 3x a month it was ridiculous.  It is a bit odd that they would start you guys on it.