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leaving an ear infection untreated...

Baby428Baby428 member
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months

is what someone was asking about on Facebook!! They were saying they can't afford the prescription for their 1 yr. old and wanted to know what will happen if left untreated!!!  First off - that poor baby!  How painful to have an ear infection and not have any relief!!  Secondly, I'm no doctor but I'm pretty sure it can cause severe damage in your eardrum/canal if left untreated! 

 

 

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Re: leaving an ear infection untreated...

  • mandi7782mandi7782 member
    ear infections are painful, that poor baby.  It would be hard for me not to go give them $$ for it. 
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  • katiekate1974katiekate1974 member
    Rather than flaming them here, why din't you offer to help? I mean, really? You seem more concerned about what "bad" parents they are for not having the money to help their baby than in actually making sure the poor baby gets help. Am I misreading/understanding? If so, I apologize.
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  • groovygrlgroovygrl member
    please direct them to walmart or target where they have $4 formularies. I'm sure the pedi would be willing to work with them on a medication that can be found on the list or maybe even can help identify another source. 
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  • amberdl28amberdl28 member

    Some ear infections can clear up without antibiotics. It depends on how bad it was. My son went to the doctor a few weeks ago and the doctor said he probably had an ear infection but it wasnt too bad and it had already healed on its own. He never really cried or had a fever with it so we never knew.

    Saying that I would do anything in my power to get my kid the meds if he needs them. I know some places give free antibiotics around here or really cheap ones. I know some places have 4 dollar antibiotics.

    My mom 10/8/1959-10/31/2011 image Dylan image
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  • Mommy2B_HartMommy2B_Hart
    How incredibly painful for that poor child.  Since for whatever reason, offering to help did come to mind for you, I hope someone offers to buy that child's medication. 
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  • EchowyspEchowysp member
    Actually, docs will tell you that most ear infections resolve on their own.
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  • Baby428Baby428 member

    imagekatiekate1974:
    Rather than flaming them here, why din't you offer to help? I mean, really? You seem more concerned about what parents they are for not having the money to help their baby than in actually making sure the poor baby gets help. Am I misreading/understanding? If so, I apologize.

    Trust me - she was more or less seeking attention than anything else.  If it were someone who I thought actually needed money then I would obviously help out.  Her priorities are a bit out of whack. 

    ETA: I know this girl's mom.  If the baby really needed something, then the mom would for surely come to the rescue. 

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  • EchowyspEchowysp member

    Here's a link that shows that 8 out of 10 ear infections heal themselves without antibiotics.

     link

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  • katiekate1974katiekate1974 member
    imageMissy42807:

    imagekatiekate1974:
    Rather than flaming them here, why din't you offer to help? I mean, really? You seem more concerned about what parents they are for not having the money to help their baby than in actually making sure the poor baby gets help. Am I misreading/understanding? If so, I apologize.

    Trust me - she was more or less seeking attention than anything else.  If it were someone who I thought actually needed money then I would obviously help out.  Her priorities are a bit out of whack. 

    Fair enough. I have one of those, too. It's getting harder and harder to bite my tongue. I'd unfriend, but I do enjoy the drama she brings. LOL
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  • Mommy2B_HartMommy2B_Hart
    imageMissy42807:

    imagekatiekate1974:
    Rather than flaming them here, why din't you offer to help? I mean, really? You seem more concerned about what parents they are for not having the money to help their baby than in actually making sure the poor baby gets help. Am I misreading/understanding? If so, I apologize.

    Trust me - she was more or less seeking attention than anything else.  If it were someone who I thought actually needed money then I would obviously help out.  Her priorities are a bit out of whack. 

    ETA: I know this girl's mom.  If the baby really needed something, then the mom would for surely come to the rescue. 

    Thanks for the clarification.  Why do people post that kind of crap?  Things like that annoy me to no end. 

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  • Sage MommySage Mommy
    imageMissy42807:

    imagekatiekate1974:
    Rather than flaming them here, why din't you offer to help? I mean, really? You seem more concerned about what parents they are for not having the money to help their baby than in actually making sure the poor baby gets help. Am I misreading/understanding? If so, I apologize.

    Trust me - she was more or less seeking attention than anything else.  If it were someone who I thought actually needed money then I would obviously help out.  Her priorities are a bit out of whack. 

    ETA: I know this girl's mom.  If the baby really needed something, then the mom would for surely come to the rescue. 

    That's just weird. 'Look at me, I can't afford to take care of my child!' Uh ok.

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  • jessicaclarejessicaclare member
    imageEchowysp:

    Here's a link that shows that 8 out of 10 ear infections heal themselves without antibiotics.

     link

    This. DOn't get me wrong, if my kids needed meds I'd do everything in my power to get them, but antibiotics for ear infections are way overprescribed. 

    image
    Annelise 3.22.2007 Norah 10.24.2009 Amelia 8.7.2011
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  • Art TeacherArt Teacher
    imageMissy42807:

    imagekatiekate1974:
    Rather than flaming them here, why din't you offer to help? I mean, really? You seem more concerned about what parents they are for not having the money to help their baby than in actually making sure the poor baby gets help. Am I misreading/understanding? If so, I apologize.

    Trust me - she was more or less seeking attention than anything else.  If it were someone who I thought actually needed money then I would obviously help out.  Her priorities are a bit out of whack. 

    ETA: I know this girl's mom.  If the baby really needed something, then the mom would for surely come to the rescue. 

    Just saw your post and that it says you are from MI under your profile.  If your friend is in MI, the doctor can prescribe amoxicillin and Meijers will fill it for FREE.  We did just that today for DD's ear infection.

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  • EchowyspEchowysp member
    imagejessicaclare:
    imageEchowysp:

    Here's a link that shows that 8 out of 10 ear infections heal themselves without antibiotics.

     link

    This. DOn't get me wrong, if my kids needed meds I'd do everything in my power to get them, but antibiotics for ear infections are way overprescribed. 

    Me too.  I was responding to the notion that it will cause hearing damage.

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  • Baby428Baby428 member
    imageArt Teacher:
    imageMissy42807:

    imagekatiekate1974:
    Rather than flaming them here, why din't you offer to help? I mean, really? You seem more concerned about what parents they are for not having the money to help their baby than in actually making sure the poor baby gets help. Am I misreading/understanding? If so, I apologize.

    Trust me - she was more or less seeking attention than anything else.  If it were someone who I thought actually needed money then I would obviously help out.  Her priorities are a bit out of whack. 

    ETA: I know this girl's mom.  If the baby really needed something, then the mom would for surely come to the rescue. 

    Just saw your post and that it says you are from MI under your profile.  If your friend is in MI, the doctor can prescribe amoxicillin and Meijers will fill it for FREE.  We did just that today for DD's ear infection.

    Perfect!  This is what I will tell her!!  See what she says then!  I'm sure she actually already knew this which is why she posted her orginial post...to get attention.  She is a major AW! 

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  • kellyperk85kellyperk85 member
    imagejessicaclare:
    imageEchowysp:

    Here's a link that shows that 8 out of 10 ear infections heal themselves without antibiotics.

     link

    This. DOn't get me wrong, if my kids needed meds I'd do everything in my power to get them, but antibiotics for ear infections are way overprescribed. 

    While that may be true, I don't know that I would advocate for leaving an ear infection untreated.  My nephew and SIL have been battling ear infections since the day he was born.  He has been on countless antibiotics and has had 3 sets of tubes.  He is 4 years old and barely talking.  He has no developmental delays.  The fact that the ear infections have been so bad and he can't get any relief, he has suffered temporary hearing loss in one of his ears which makes talking more difficult for him than other children.

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  • jessicaclarejessicaclare member
    imagekellyperk85:

    While that may be true, I don't know that I would advocate for leaving an ear infection untreated.  My nephew and SIL have been battling ear infections since the day he was born.  He has been on countless antibiotics and has had 3 sets of tubes.  He is 4 years old and barely talking.  He has no developmental delays.  The fact that the ear infections have been so bad and he can't get any relief, he has suffered temporary hearing loss in one of his ears which makes talking more difficult for him than other children.

    I think what you're describing here are extenuating circumstances. In kids with recurring ear infections, pediatricians won't let those go untreated, obviously. However, for kids over age 2 with occasional ear infections, its not uncommon at all. Our pediatrician doesn't prescribe right away unless the pain is severe (which is why he only does it for kids over age 2 that can communicate pain level). Usually he will have us come back for a recheck in about 5 days to see how they are doing.

    Over prescribing of antibiotics for every little thing has greatly contributed to the existence of "super bugs" that don't respond to drugs at all. This is a much, much more serious problem than letting the occasional ear infection clear up on its own.

    image
    Annelise 3.22.2007 Norah 10.24.2009 Amelia 8.7.2011
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  • EchowyspEchowysp member
    imagekellyperk85:
    imagejessicaclare:
    imageEchowysp:

    Here's a link that shows that 8 out of 10 ear infections heal themselves without antibiotics.

     link

    This. DOn't get me wrong, if my kids needed meds I'd do everything in my power to get them, but antibiotics for ear infections are way overprescribed. 

    While that may be true, I don't know that I would advocate for leaving an ear infection untreated.  My nephew and SIL have been battling ear infections since the day he was born.  He has been on countless antibiotics and has had 3 sets of tubes.  He is 4 years old and barely talking.  He has no developmental delays.  The fact that the ear infections have been so bad and he can't get any relief, he has suffered temporary hearing loss in one of his ears which makes talking more difficult for him than other children.

    That isn't at all the average child's experience with ear infections, though.  For the most part, if left untreated, that average infection clears itself up without damage.

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  • erbearerbear member

    In fairness, new studies have shown that ear infections in children go away within a few days without antibiotics, so they are not recommending them. Your friend is right.

    However, she should get some tylenol/motrin to help with the pain.

    "Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies. God damn it, you've got to be kind." - Kurt Vonnegut
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  • easyBreezieeasyBreezie
    While they may heal on their own, there is also a chance it could cause permanent problems. Mine burst when i was little and have issues with it today. While it is minor, it still is bothersome. Tell her to take that poor kid to the Dr. or tell her mom if you have to.
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  • Dolly PantsDolly Pants

    Gah! My SIL does that too  " Banker please give me a loan so I can pay my electric bill.. too high this month"

    Indifferent

    For real?  You feel like telling the world you can't keep your kid warm?  

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