Chronic Ear Infections

[Kat]

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone had any advice regarding chronic ear infections. My DS (7 months) always seems to have an ear infection, and he is miserable and up all night every night crying from the pain. I have taken him to see his pediatrician several times, and he is always prescribed antibiotics that seem to help at first...but the infection ultimately comes back. The idea of putting tubes in his ears has been brought up now, and I was just wondering if anyone else went through this, if there is something else to try or maybe even a natural remedy that helps. I don't want him to be in pain, so if his pediatrician (who is a wonderful, wonderful guy BTW) says tubes are his best bet, then I trust his judgment. But at the same time, he seems awfully young, and I just wonder if there might be another option I am missing. Would love to hear your experiences! :-)

[catherine]

Well, my experience probably isn't the most desirable one. DH had a theory that the doctors perpetrated the ear infections to make money in office visits, which of course led to a recommendation for tubes in the ears which DH saw as another money-making scam, and he threatened the doctor by telling him if our son wasn't better in a couple of weeks we wouldn't be back.

I'm sure it was a coincidence, but my son's ear infection went away completely. I refuse to believe it was anything other than sheer coincidence. But my point is, I don't blame you for being a little reluctant to go the tubes route. However, I really know little about it.

If it's not an infection, just an earache, we always used my MIL's folk remedy of warming an onion, wrapping it in a washcloth and holding it up to the ear. It always worked, so keep that in mind as DS gets older.

[new2oregon]

Hi Kat, I had ear infections all my life and should have had tubes when I was young. I got them as an adult and they make a world of difference. My son got tubes as a kid and he his good now. I have had to have mine replaced but kids usually get them one time and they are o.k. A friend of ours little child had to have tubes and it helped. The pain of ear infections is bad. I would say to get them done. I hope this helps.

[JaneV2.0]

I wouldn't go for tubes, personally. A friend's son had a disastrous experience, and is now partially deaf as a result. I glanced at medical treatments, and they all seem to be antibiotics, more antibiotics, and tubes. There's no such thing in nature as a "tube deficiency." I'd look for a cause, rather than treating symptoms. Dairy intolerance is a common cause of earache in small children.

[Gardenarian]

My daughter had a few ear infections and the doctors recommended using ibuprofen for 24 hours to reduce the inflammation. It worked in every case for her - no need for antibiotics (but she was older than your little one.)
Good luck - this must be so difficult for you.

[Teacher Terry]

My son who is now 33 had them all the time. The fluid buildup got so bad that by the time he was 5 he could not hear unless you were yelling & standing right in front of him. He got tubes and that worked. I think most kids only need them once but they come out eventually by themselves-I think they last about a year. Well his infections just kept coming back so he ended up with 5 sets. He did end up having some scar tissue build up & a slight hearing loss. But considering the alternative even knowing the outcome I would do it again because he had such a bad problem. He needs the TV louder then other people, etc.

[CathyA]

I've heard that food allergies can cause this.
I also knew someone who took her child to a chiropractor and he manipulated her neck. Some people would never risk that, but she said after that, her daughter didn't have any problems.

[fidgiegirl]

It sounds like maybe you'd like to get a second opinion, but are afraid of hurting your physician's feelings or something. I vote see someone else and see what they think. Can't hurt. It's your job to be the child's advocate, and that's ok. Poor baby. :( Poor mama too. :(

To second Jane - when I cut out dairy, I really noticed an improvement in nose and ear issues for myself.

[Rosemary]

an often undiagnosed cause of ear, sinus, & upper respiratory infections is reflux. Reflux is made worse by lying down soon after eating, which is the routine of many infants. It is also made worse by anything that causes gas, such as dairy in people with lactose intolerance.

I'm pretty convinced that the only infections my DD has had were caused by this. Since I began to implement changes in her routine - never any bedtime snacks; eating at least 2 hours before bed, having her sit up more in bed if I hear her coughing after lying down, and avoiding excessive acidic foods (she shows signs of reflux, for instance, if she eats too many clementines in one day) - she has not had any more sinus or ear infections.

[mamalatte]

If you have any doubts about the ear tube procedure, I would suggest further research and/or a second opinion. For example, I have read articles to the effect that a) young babies may "grow out of" having a lot of earaches as their eustachian tubes get longer and are at more of an angle as the baby gets older; to my recollection at 7 months your little one could be at the stage where this growth has not yet happened; b) antibiotics are often overprescribed for ear infections, most of which are not bacterial and will clear up on their own (I think the overprescribing may be partly because the poor parents feel bad for the pain the child is in -- I had a lot of earaches as a child and they HURT! As an adult I now rarely get them but a hot wet cloth over the hurting ear gives me some relief, some people suggest lightly warmed olive oil poured in the ear but I've never tried that); c) there are other things you could try that may help to lessen frequency of earaches, like making sure to feed your baby sitting upright, eliminating possible allergens, other things suggested above. Also, in my anecdotal experience, certain pediatricians seem to recommend the ear tubes quite often, while others do not. You may still decide the ear tubes are the way to go but I think you are right to pause and think about trying some other options first.

[Yarrow]

Why hasn't your pediatrician given you eardrops to use for pain relief? It will stop the pain from an ear infection instantly.

My DD had ear tubes put in at the age of 6 years old and they helped her immensely. She had such a fluid build up she was half deaf and couldn't keep her balance. Tubes were definitely a lifesaver for her.

I think you should take your DS to an ENT (ear, nose, & throat doctor) for a second opinion. That's what I did with my DD and I'm so glad I did! She is an adult now and hears very well.

I feel bad for you and your little one - ear infections are so painful. I had many as child too. I remember how painful they were...

[AnneM]

My daughter got tubes in her ears due to eustachian tube issues caused by cleft palate. The relief was immediate. Before she had the tubes inserted, she had chronic, painful ear infections.

I second the idea of consulting an ENT. Your pediatrician may not have the proper experience to deal with your son's issue.

[CathyA]

Unfortunately, sometimes young children's eustachian tubes are just really small.......and can easily get blocked.

[Birdie]

From what I remember working in doctors offices, a childs eustachian tube is the size it will be as an adult. And the tube either is bent or compressed somehow which can cause ear problems. It's very common for children to have ear problems and the tubes are a pretty common response to that. Neither of my kids had them, so I have no personal info though.

Someone lese suggested seeing an ENT if you are concerned. It certainly might ease your worries to do so.

[Gardenarian]

I was wondering if your child is breastfeeding? No judgement here - but if so, you might contact you local La Leche League. I found them a great source of support when my dd was little.

[Kat]

Thanks, everyone! I appreciate you sharing your insight, experiences, opinions, etc.

I am breastfeeding DS and thought that might help prevent some ear infections...but apparently not. The lactation consultant from the hospital told me to try to nurse him upright, but that just isn't comfortable for either of us. He is a big fella--in the 95th percentile--and not yet sitting up on his own. Plus, he just prefers to be on his side.

I am not nervous about getting a second opinion, nor is our pediatrician hesitant to suggest getting one (one of the reasons I love him--he is not afraid to say, "This isn't my area of expertise. Let's find someone who knows more." There is an ENT on the same campus as DS's pediatrician, and the pediatrician has already suggested we make an appt. if we can't get these ear infections under control. He said the ENT may suggest the tubes.

DS ended up with another infection this weekend, so I had to take him back to the office. Our pediatrician was not in, so he saw a different one. That pediatrician prescribed an even stronger antibiotic and said he will probably need tubes...but I made an appt with our pediatrician for Wednesday because I really prefer to deal with him. He knows our history, has a wonderful bedside manner, and truly cares about our kids. So I guess we will have to wait and see what he says. I feel very torn about it all. He seems young and the idea of tubes bothers me. But at the same time, he is constantly in pain and the medication doesn't seem to be helping. And the side effects of the meds are horrible! I don't want to see him hurting so much all the time and risk permanent damage to his hearing because I was unwilling to allow the doctor to do a fairly common, simple procedure. So...I don't know! I'll see what his doctor says. I trust his judgment.

Thanks again. It really helps to hear from those who have been there! :-)

[Rosemary]

a great resource with detailed info:
http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/childhood-illnesses/ear-infections

[JaneV2.0]

Do you eat dairy? If so, try cutting it out for a couple of weeks.

[Gardenarian]

Kat - a friend of mine had her son sleep in his car seat rather than a crib, and it helped a great deal with his ears. I forgot about that - many years ago.

[Rosemary]

Sleeping more upright is one of the suggestions for reflux, which seems to be pretty common in infants. We put something under one end of DD's crib mattress to elevate it.