Chronic Ear Infections in Infants
I took my son to the doctor for his 6 month check up and during the exam the doctor informed me that he had a double ear infection. How could I not know this? Talk about feeling like a bad mom. Not to mention this is his fourth ear infection! So far he has been on antibiotics 20% of his life. I am becoming more and more concerned especially that I was not even aware he had one. I’m now wondering if he has had even more that I was never aware of? Or what if the last one never really went away? Or what I could be doing to contribute to this?
I’ve heard that chronic ear infections can show less severe symptoms so the infection may go unnoticed and untreated for a longer period of time causing more damage than an acute infection. This makes me want to take him to the doctor weekly just to make sure.
He hasn’t appeared to be sick, he’s never around anyone that smokes, and he’s been breastfed exclusively, although we just recently started some solids. The doctor said he is at more risk because his big brother goes to preschool and brings home all kinds of viruses, and they can be transmitted to him with or without any obvious symptoms.
He is now on another 10 day dose of amoxicillin and the doctor will see him again in about a week. Meanwhile I am trying to do my own research on middle ear infections and learn as much as possible. I would really like to find out why he keeps getting them and if there are any other forms of treatment besides constantly prescribing him antibiotics, because I am also fearful that he may become immune.
Has anyone experienced chronic ear infections with their little ones?
Posted: May 11th, 2008 under Ear Infections.
Comments: 7
Comments
Comment from Pam
Time: May 12, 2008, 4:37 am
I feel your ear infection pain. I’m sorry your little one is dealing with it again. My son had an ear infection that I missed and his inner ear got a small hole in it, pus drained out (okay- that I noticed!), and he needed meds. The doctors told me that is more common then we realize, but I felt the the WORST mom. I don’t have any info for you- other then I know some kids get tubes for repeat ear infections. Good luck and keep us posted!
Comment from Andrea
Time: May 12, 2008, 7:35 am
Awww, I hope he feels better soon! But it must be hard to see him always getting these ear infections! My son has actually never had one, so I can’t really help you out too much…but I have done one thing which apparently helps prevent them a lot. And that is to simply cover up his ears with a hat that has actual earflaps or a boy-ish bonnet or something like that so that he doesn’t get the wind in his ears when go outside. He wears a hat ALL the time when we are outside, and all I know is that it seems to be working since we’ve never had an infection and he is almost 2 yrs. old. So, I guess if you don’t cover up his ears when you’re outside, it’s at least a cheap and simple thing to try. 
Comment from Medgirl
Time: May 12, 2008, 9:22 am
Hi there, I completely understand. Take it from the expert on ear infections!! I am 32 years old and I have had ear infections all my life. Have had tubes put in my eustacian tube for drainage three times because it is too narrow. If I get water in when I’m bathing or I get a cold, or sinus infection, my ear infection follows. I was born with a narrow eustacian tube, and therefore it doesn’t drain when I get water in. Your son could have just that. You may not be doing anything wrong. May I give you few suggestions?? When you feed breast or bottle feed him, make sure his head is higher than his tummy, it helps drain better. When you bathe him, try to avoid getting water filled in his ear. If you continue using antibiotics for his ear infections, he will become resistant to them and eventually you will have to use extremely high dosages or stronger antibiotics resulting in stronger strings of viruses. Try health food store. I treat my ear infections with a wax stick…not sure you can treat his ear with that until he falls asleep. When you read the instructions on how to use it, you’ll understand why..But take it from me, it works! And I never really take oral antibiotics, I usually put in a few antibiotic DROPS in first day of earache (I keep it refrigerated). A sign that he may have an ear infection is that he pulls on his ear or trys to scratch it a lot. I know that re-occurring ear infections and constant ear infections is a strong sign that you’r son’s ear is not draining properly. May want to get the opinion of an ear specialist insead..:) Hope this was helpful..
Comment from Dana
Time: May 12, 2008, 1:37 pm
Oh i’m so sorry you little ones are battling ear infections.. That stinks!! I wish everyone a fast receovery!!BR/BR/Hope you enjoyed your mother’s dayt!!BR/BR/Happy Monday!
Comment from Danielle
Time: May 12, 2008, 6:28 pm
I wish I could help! My husband xsuffered chronic ear inections as a child from his allergies. He had dose after dose on antibiotics before they realized the cause. He neded up getting tubes in his ears. I am thinking of you and your little one and hoping he feels better soon.
Comment from Kelsey S
Time: May 12, 2008, 7:57 pm
I hope he feels better soon! During my first year of life I spent more then 9 months on medication for ear infections.BR/BR/KelseyBR/mysweetlife.org
Comment from Lori
Time: May 13, 2008, 5:03 am
I hope he feels better soon! My son hasn’t had an ear infection yet, but he has had times when he doesn’t feel good and you sit there and wonder… ok what is wrong? It is hard, they can’t tell us to life is a guessing game!
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