Ear infection ? for STM

jdp

How many of you have brought your LO in because you think they have an ear infection, get told their ears look good and days later an ear infection does in fact present itself?

I am paranoid this is going to happen to us.  DD was up all night...exactly what happened the last time she had one, and the dr said her ears looked perfect.  I don't want one to pop up when we are on vacation next week! 

PenelopePond

The one time we had this happen with DS, the dr wrote an prescription for medicine and told us to fill it in a couple days if things continued/various other symptoms showed up.  We got it filled just in case and ended up needing it.

Manx4

None, both times I thought it was an ear infection - it was.  Our doctor also told us that teething can lead to ear infections too - especially when it's their molars.  We only had antibiotics for his first infection, the second one they gave us drops to help numb the pain.  It went away on its own.  

Without starting a debate of any sort - our doctor and we agree that antibiotics can and are over used with ear infections.  With the research I've done & that he has read, it's something we only want to pull out when it's necessary.  

terri_doula2010

We've only taken him to the doctor and found ear infections, but I want to through in a PSA while here: chiropractic does amazing things for ear infections.

DS had an ear infection and was given an antibiotic. At the end of it, he broke out in to a horrible full body rash, was miserable for days, we couldn't put clothes on him or it got worse. The doctor said allergy (that was amoxicillan). A few weeks later he got a double ear infection. This time he was put on azythromycin and again had an allergic reaction (not quite as bad, but still!). He didn't even get to finish that round of antibiotics.  My chiropractor suggested we bring him to her so we tried that. He saw her 2-3 times and hasn't had an ear infection since (in almost 1.5 years).

Next time he (or DD) has an ear infection, we're going to the chiropractor instead of the pharmacy.

beckslea

No, we haven't had that happen.  (And DD has had quite a few ear infections so I tend to be overly cautious with taking her in if I think there is any chance).

Has she had a cold/virus that could have developed into an infection in the last few days?  

mrs.kapow

Usually, like PP said, they can see the start of it and then make a note that if we call with further symptoms, they will call in a prescription. DD has tubes, though, and drainage is an easy "symptom" to spot.

jdp

Oh good, this makes me feel better.  I don't know what it is, but I think she is getting a little fever too, it was like 100 at the DR.  I just gave her some ibuprofin and put her to bed...with no lunch:(  Poor thing didn't have an appetite. Maybe just a little summer cold, hopefully she kicks it's butt today!

gingerfamily

We've had it happen.  DD ended up with tubes because she had 9 ear infections in less than a 6 month window. 

Terri - I'm curious...  why the chiropracter instead of the dr? 

 

fadsmama

We have had this happen twice. My sister is a pediatric resident and said that this is actually quite common. 

Holly_1007

DS has never had an ear infection, but my step-daughter has chronic ear infections. 

while it is possible to bring LO in too soon to see the infection, usually the doctor can at least see the build up in fluids and tell you what to look for to know if it has become infected or needs to be looked at again. 

when do you leave for vaca? is it possible to bring her in to get looked at right before you leave (if she isn't feeling better)? give it a few days to run its course, could just be a lot of head congestion if she is sick. 

ear infections are pretty easy to diagnose though, look up a walk in center in the area you will be vacationing, shouldn't be more than $100

3monkeysmama

Yup, multiple times.  My oldest had chronic ear infections starting at 14 months.  He ended up with tubes being put in his ears when he was 2 and again at 4.  Without the tubes, he would get an ear infection, I would take him in three days after his antibiotic was done to make sure he was clear (he always was) and within a few days we would be back with a new infection.  We also discovered that he is allergic to everything in the penicillian family. 

ELCJet

My poor guy had about 9 ear infections prior to tubes....and every time I brought him in, it was because his sleep was interrupted and I just "had a feeling."  The nurses would laugh at me, but sure enough, I've never been wrong.  Sometimes they will be borderline....fluid in the ear and some redness, but those always always turned into infections for us.  So if your LO is having symptoms, they should see *something* there.  Might not be an infection by their standards, but certainly can get worse.  (I always fill the antibiotic and keep in on hand in case we need it)

 

 

mrs.kapow

ELCJet:

My poor guy had about 9 ear infections prior to tubes....and every time I brought him in, it was because his sleep was interrupted and I just "had a feeling."  The nurses would laugh at me, but sure enough, I've never been wrong.  

It's amazing the different symptoms or lack thereof kids can have with EIs. We were in the same boat with something like 10 EIs before tubes and DD's only symptom would be this weird head tilt.

The doc thought it was pretty amazing that we made that connection and how good she was with a raging EI.  

MeNV

We have not had this happen, but I can't imagine it's uncommon. My doctors have always been always been able to tell when one is starting but they are so, so good.

Sadly we've had a lot of experience with ear infections and I've learned to trust me gut. My little guy is on his second set of tubes and he's only two. Hope your little one does fine on vacation!

ELCJet

mrs.kapow:

It's amazing the different symptoms or lack thereof kids can have with EIs. We were in the same boat with something like 10 EIs before tubes and DD's only symptom would be this weird head tilt.

The doc thought it was pretty amazing that we made that connection and how good she was with a raging EI.  

Crazy Mom Spidey-sense we have.    I wish we had one of those kids who could get along without antibiotics and it would get better, but the one time his antibiotic stopped working and we were on vacation, he spiked a temp of 104 and was listless....horrible.  I'm such a huge fan of ear tubes now.  This new baby gets 3 ear infections, tops, before she gets a set.

bosha711

This happened to us the one time DS had a double ear infection - for his first bday, of course!

We took him in b/c he was "off" & the pedi couldn't find anything wrong. Then a few days later, we took him back & he had a double ear infection & pink eye. fun times!