|
|
Post by Chris on Feb 9, 2006 19:43:23 GMT -5
Sarah has tubes in her ears although only the left one is functioning right now. She has yet another ear infection. I know she has an infection since her left ear drains. Do you give your kids antibiotics every time they have an ear infection? If the ear is draining yellow or green gunk, is the ear infection really bad?
Yesterday, I noticed a slight discharge from Sarah's left ear. She is getting over a cold so I check her ears frequently. Today, it is much worse. I took her to an urgent care center and the doctor said she probably needs and antibiotic any time her ear drains. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Chris
|
|
|
|
Post by Monique on Feb 9, 2006 23:05:55 GMT -5
my son is 5 and on his second set of tubes. Once the first set fell out we tried to see if the infections would improve but he would just keep getting them.
So we got the second set. He still gets ear infections every so often and we are now only able to use Zithromax because he has grown immune to aumentum and amoxciclan (sorry about the spelling).
So i would recomend doing another set so that you dont have to give antibiotics as often because now my son is getting immune to them from how often we used to give them to him.
Drainage is supposed to be a good sign at least. One doctor also recommended putting a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide in each ear to keep the wax down but I would ask your doc about that first.
monique
|
|
|
|
Post by Kristin on Feb 12, 2006 0:50:34 GMT -5
Clarice is on her 5th? set of tubes. She is 7 years old and seems to be getting fewer ear infections. We treat them with ear drops (prescription) and if that doesn't clear it up, her ENT orders antibiotics. Quite often the ear infection coincides with congestion. If I can get ahead of the congestion with decongestants, I can often avoid the ear infection. The tubes have been extremely helpful. Without the tubes and congested she looses 70% or more of her hearing. I am cautions about too many antibiotics. We've had one round of bacterial overgrowth which can be caused by too many antibiotics, plus the resistance issue. My pediatrician is careful to rotate antibiotics as much as possible.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tammy on Feb 12, 2006 8:24:21 GMT -5
Two out of three of my kids has had "tubes" (we call tham "Grommetts" over here)
Neither of these kids had problems with ear infections as such, but they did have significant hearing losses because of fluid build up.
My daughter (non DS) only ever needed one set of grommetts inserted and her hearing and ear fluid has been fine ever since.
Lewis (DS) however has had 3 sets of grommets inserted. Each time he has had the procedure done, is the ONLY times he has had an ear infection... seems releasing the backed up mankey fluid tends to invite bugs in there... we usually treat with a combination of eardrops and antibiotics.
HOWEVER.....
At various times, Lewis will have a discharge from his ears...kinda like a runny nose, only it is his ears...
I have taken him back to the ENT, heva seen the Paed, and our Local GP, and EVERYONE says, it is normal for ears with grommetts to discharge occaisionally...it is a good sign that the grommetts are doing what they need to do.
If, however, the discharge gets smelly... then it is cause for concern because a; there may be an infection present, or b; the grommets are slightly blocked and restricting the flow and thus building up fluid and pressure in the ear, which we all know the end result of, or we wouldnt be talking grommetts.
So.... I would be watching the ears... looking for "excessive" drainage and particularly a Smell.
Otherwise, it may just pass the same as a runny nose with a cold...
Hope I made sense...
|
|
|
|
Post by coopersmoma on Mar 14, 2006 22:58:29 GMT -5
Cooper is on his 2nd set of tubes. He gets infections quite frequently. I was told by our ENT Dr to call them anytime we think Cooper may have a problem with his ears. Our little one's ear canals are so much smaller than other kids, that most pediatricians can not see in their tiny ears. Our ENT has to use a scope to be able to see Cooper's ears. They usually try Ciprodex drops first and if that does not clear up the drainage they try a stronger antibiotic drop(can't remember the name of it), if that doesn't help we go in and they irrigate his ears. I know every child is different from the next but this has been my experience with Ear infections and tubes.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kristen on Mar 15, 2006 14:00:30 GMT -5
Green or yellow drainage is not a good sign. Carter doesn't have tubes, but he just had his first ear infection and it progressed before we knew what was happening to a rupture! He has yellow coming out of his ear. It took three rounds of antibiotics to get rid of that thing! I finally bombarded him with the anti's, the anti ear drops he was first given and benadryl to get the congestion out. THEN he got better - WHEW!
|
|
|
|
Post by MatureMomG on Mar 21, 2006 13:44:41 GMT -5
Many moms find that completely cutting out all dairy reduces or elimates ear infections. We have been dairy free for over 25 years (99.9% dairy free) and with 7 kids, 3 of whom are adults, we have only had ONE ear infection total.
|
|
|
|
Post by aimee on Apr 1, 2006 8:58:58 GMT -5
My daughter Kenzie is 8 and on her 3rd set of tubes, and her 3rd ENT. We like this one. When she had her last set put in she also had her tonsils and adnoids removed. She still gets sinus infections and ear infections but not as often. We call them blow outs when Kenzie gets the drainage, just like you blew your nose, out your ear. Her ent started using bactroban cream, I know it sounds werid, and looks werid. Its a cream you usually use on cuts to prevent infections, and it requires a perscription. It works great, you put it in the ear twice a day, after the second dose it stops draining. Talk to your docter about it, its a new pocedure, but its working great for Kenzie.
|
|
|
|
Post by cj1225 on Apr 11, 2006 17:42:31 GMT -5
My son Carson had his second set of ear tubes put in about a month ago. Our ENT put in 't-tubes' that are shaped like a 't'. We have noticed SUCH an improvement in his speach! He still eats stage 3 baby foods and is very particular about what kind (he prefers fruits) but he is trying to make sounds and you can see by the look on his face how hard he tries.
|
|
|
|
Post by maribella on Jun 6, 2006 22:53:56 GMT -5
You guys! I am so freaked out! I just read this. Isabella is scheduled for tubes and adenoidectomy in July. One of the posts said that thier daughter is on her 5th(?) set?  ? Wow. OK....breathe.........LOL |
|
|
|
Post by Monique on Jun 9, 2006 18:58:37 GMT -5
im interested in this too. Jameson is on his 2nd set at age 5 and they are recommending a tonsil and ad surgery july 14th. This is a new ENT cuz we moved to a different state.
what do you guys think?
|
|
|
|
Post by belovedlife2 on Jun 22, 2006 18:24:28 GMT -5
We are putting our second set of tubes in, since PEanut failed her hearing screen. Her tubes are in the ear, but not working well enough, s o we will try again.
Whenever her tubes had drainage (my oldest daughter also has tubes, her 4th set) we try something local first, like floxin, or ciprodex, as I hate to keep putting the girls on systemic drugs so often. Usually the ciprodex works like majic unless there are other symptoms, like fever, sinus infection, etc. The best thing I have found to to work with your ENT closely and keep tabs on the fluid build up making sure it is not interfering with hearing, as well as taking care of the infections.
Robin
|
|
|
|
Post by Kristin on Jul 10, 2006 23:43:46 GMT -5
Clarice is on her 5th set, because she loses them about every 10 months. We haven't put in the T-tubes, which are more permanent because even with the other tubes, she still gets an ear drum rupture about once a year. A t-tube would just make a larger hole. Clarice has a tiny eustacian tube, so her ears don't drain. She is gluten, casein, and dairy free, so food allergies are under control. I had ear drums that ruptured yearly until I turned 13. The doctors didn't put tubes in my ears, but probably should have. (I have heavily scarred ear drums, but not much hearing loss yet.)
She currently has one functioning tube, the other fell out as it clogged and the drum ruptured. (In other words, the tube is out and she has a hole in the drum from the pressure.)
We'll wait and check her hearing in another month. Without the tubes, she suffers a 70% hearing loss due to the pressure and congestion in her ears. This is accompanied by ear infections and slurred speech. My experience is that the tubes are important for her to minimize the ruptures (very painful) and keep her hearing well.
When Clarice's ears drain, they give her ear drops, which are actually eye drops. Sometimes that is all they do. If she gets another soon after, or the drainage is green and yellow gunk, they'll sometimes prescribe antibiotics. We try to avoid too many antibiotics, as she has suffered from bacterial overgrowth before.
|
|
|
|
Post by maribella on Jul 20, 2006 19:09:24 GMT -5
Bella goes in next week, Tuesday to be exact, to get tubes and a partial adenoidectomy(sp?). So, if you will all keep her in youjr prayers, I would appreciate it. I know it is a very common surgery, but this is a first for us. At least it isn't AVcanal repair. THAT was brutal.
Kristin, I do like the idea of "dairy - free". recently found out that I am lactose intolerant, so I have started using soy products, and what I eat, Bella eats. I have noticed a huge difference in the mucous factor. I am also starting to visit health food stores for other ideas. Thank you.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kristin on Jul 21, 2006 12:13:28 GMT -5
Some people are sensitive to soy. I use rice based products in addition to soy and rotate them. For cheese, my kids like tofutti. They also make an ice cream that isn't too bad. I find when I bake muffins I can almost always substitute apple juice for the milk. There is also a product called Van's Dari-free which is potato based. Just a few suggestions...good luck.
|
|
&&
? Wow. OK....breathe.........LOL 