Kids and Earaches

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

03 Jun 2006 08:51 AM

When your child has an ear infection, what do you do? Do you run to the doctor for antibiotics, or do you watch and wait and see what happens? Often a childhood ear infection will run its course in the same amount of time with or without antibiotics!

For the last few years, the American Academy of Pediatrics has been suggesting watchful waiting for ear infections that are not severe. The drawback to over-using antibiotics is that your body (and the bacteria) can become resistant to antibiotics over time.

When to watch and wait:

• If your child is still eating and drinking regularly
• If your child's fever is not above 102 degrees
• If the pain is not severe

When to call the doctor:

• If the pain is great, or increases
• If the fever rises above 102.2 degrees
• If your child's energy level changes
• If the situation does not improve after 48-72 hours

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that if you are using the watch and wait method, focus on pain relief, especially in the first twenty-four hours. Use appropriate doses of ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and do not give aspirin. If the ear infection does not improve after 48-72 hours, the child may need antibiotics.

Here are some things to do that may help prevent earaches:

• The pneumococcal vaccine and/or flu vaccine may help prevent ear infections caused by certain types of bacteria
• Limit pacifier use and/or thumb sucking. The sucking can interfere with fluid drainage in the ear.
• Avoid secondhand smoke! Smoke can make Eustachian tubes swell, which will impair drainage. Behind those swollen tubes may be a warm, dark, wet breeding ground for bacteria.
• Breastfeed your newborn for at least six months to provide your child with your own natural immune-boosters!
• When you bottle feed, be sure your baby sits upright so that the liquid drains properly.

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Sara Denomme (1063) 04 Jun 2006 03:38 PM

This couldn't have come at a better time! My five year old has an ear infection, and sucks her thumb quite often. I will suggest to her that maybe this is a good time to give up the thumb, since it may have contributed to the infection. We too have decided to forgo anitibiotics, and wait and see. Thanks!

Andrea M (2525) 04 Jun 2006 06:27 PM

I can not say that I am for the wait and see approach! Because of the fact that my children do not have the "normal" symptoms that most have! I can take the children into the doctor for a well check up and the ear drum might be on the verge of rupturing! I have had this happen numerous times with both of my sons! Now, my daughter, she has had only one ear infection and she is 18 mos old. Hopefully it will stay that way:)

Heather Long (16954) 04 Jun 2006 07:17 PM

Same here. My daughter rarely if EVER ran a fever with some of her worst ear infections and I have scar tissue damage in my left ear from an untreated ear infection where my ear drum ruptured before my parents even realized I had an infection.

Aimee Amodio (12040) 05 Jun 2006 08:12 AM

It sounds like your children, Andi and Heather, don't get the "average" childhood ear infections! I agree that in your cases, a doctor's visit is probably in order. It just goes to show that every case (and every child!) is different! I never got an ear infection as a child; my brother had them frequently.

Heather Long (16954) 05 Jun 2006 09:08 AM

Absolutely, Aimee. In fact my 7 month old nephew was spiking a fever all night, but isn't tugging at his ears. I bet dollars for donuts it will be an ear infection. I have only ever had one ear infection that manifested as pure pain and I felt like I had a spike driving my ear -- and even that one -- ear drums close to rupturing -- didn't cause me to run a fever.