Ear Infections

Questions come up all the time about what to do when your child has an earache. It can be miserable for both the parent and child. What you need to understand is that an ear infection is rarely if ever life threatening although the child might make you think so. With a little research and some common knowledge, more often than not, you can take care of earaches at home. Here is an e-mail I recently received through Mama Source (an online resource for moms) about this very subject.

Question:
I have a 3 year old daughter who is getting ready to go see another E.N.T. about possibly getting tubes put back into her ears.We have had to go to the doctor 6 times in the last 3 weeks, and had an infection each week. We had to go through the shots of the antibiotic-Rosefin(sp?). She was on Augmentin and is now on Omnicef-and is still miserable after 3 days of medicine. Our appointment is next Thursday, and we are wondering if getting tubes again is a good option. It just seems like there should be something else that can be done. When the tubes were in the first time, it was wonderful-not one problem. They have only been out for 3 months out now, and we've had an infection at least once a month. My grandma said to talk to the E.N.T. about a tonsillectomy-she said that's what they used to do when the tubes didn't work. I just don't know where to go or what to do/expect. Someone please help me here.

From: Trista R

This was my response to her:

I am a mother of 5 (almost 6) children, 10 and younger. We have had a lot of experience with earaches. When my oldest was little, every time she got sick with anything, we took her to the doctor and got an antibiotic. But as soon as she finished the meds she was on, it seemed like she got the same thing back again or got sick in some other way. It was a bad cycle. As I had more children, I started to think about more options. I started studying nutrition and how foods that we eat would effect the overall well being of a child. I started studying herbs and how they assist the body to become well again. And most importantly, I studied antibiotics and the effects they have on a body. What I found is that when you take just one round of antibiotics, it may get rid of the infection, but it also gets rid of all the good bacteria your body needs to fight off future infections. Then the crazy cycle starts of getting sick, getting better. 2 weeks later getting sick... over and over.
First, my advice would be to give her tons of yogurt! Yogurt helps to replenish the good bacteria but you have to eat it everyday for at least 30 days(just from one round of meds). Next, see if you cant break the cycle on your own without meds. Try seeing if her immune system will take care of the ear infection first and use something like ear drops. I have had good luck with garlic and mullein oil (kids ear clear oil bought at Good Earth). Also, you could try an immune booster like Echinacea drops for kids (at Good Earth also). My kids like heating pads or bean bag to lay on. Playing in a hot steamy bathroom for 15 min. at a time during the earaches to get the mucus loosened up and flowing works well also.
Also, sometimes kids get earaches because they might have a food sensitivity. Milk, cheese and sugar are especially bad because they actually cause more mucus. When my kids are sick, I lay low on the dairy and give tons of fruit and veggies to help their bodies get feeling better. I know earaches can be miserable for the child, but if you can be patient for a few days (It takes my kids 3-4 days) they will begin to feel better and their bodies will be stronger the next time another infection comes around.
Sorry, I'm sure this is way more than you wanted to know. Good luck! I wouldn't do the tonsil thing just yet. I had my tonsils out when I was 7 and I still get just as sick. As an adult I still get earaches and sore throats. Tonsils to have and important roll in our bodies to help with infections.(one more thing to research)

Shanda B

How would you respond to this question? What do you do for earaches?