Double Ear Infection Hell

[Phantom]

I posted this in baby club but nobody answered me (perhaps I`m not popular enough for the baby club ) so thought I`d try here.

Lo woke up in the middle of the night Sunday and started vomitting uncontrollably. I figured he had some sort of virus. The next couple of days he had a fever but nothing horrible. He had an appointment with the pediatrician for another reason and the doctor checked everything EXCEPT his ears. All this could have been avoided if she had just checked his ears! The next day he started getting this goop in his eye and his nose was so stuffed he couldn`t breathe. He didn`t drink anything all day and would barely eat. So I took him to another doctor and found out he had a bad double ear infection. After vomiting and a stuffy nose an ear infection was the last thing on my mind! We started antibiotics right away. That night he woke up screaming bloody murder in pain! Nothing would console him. His eye was completely stuck shut. After an hour of screaming I noticed his eye was becoming swallen along with the entire right side of his face. Fearing it was a reaction to the meds I rushed him to emerg.

Long story short he is doing better now. We still don`t know if it was a reaction or just from him clawing at his eye and face.

I`ve heard about kids getting ear infections all the time but had no idea they could get this bad. Anyone who has had experience with them how long did it take your LOs to get betterÉ. Should I be expecting it to come backÉ. I don`t know how many more nights like these I can take. My poor boy. He`s on a strict schedule of antibiotics, advil, and tylenol now but how long do I keep on this scheduleÉ Obviously I`ll give him the antibiotics for the 7 days like the doctor said but do I stop the tylenol and advil before thenÉ

I apologize my question marks aren`t coming out right. My cat stepped on my keyboard and messed it up.

 

[milosmum]

That's sounds awful your poor LO! My DS has had two ear infections but at different times thankfully. It took 24 -36 hours or antibiotics for him to be happier then another 24 hours until he was eating well and catching up on his sleep. I used paracetamol and ibuprofen until his fever had resolved but continued the paracetamol until the antibiotics finished and he was 100% back to normal. I hope your LO gets better soon x

 

[Scoobys mummy]

When dd had this they wouldn't even give me antibiotics . Just told me to alternate nurofen and calpol. Try a warm flannel on the ear a few time a day,seemed to help dd. xx

 

[kerrie24]

My daughter got her first ear infection at 9 months and had 3 or more a year untill she was 4.It was horrendous.
Normally by around day 3 of the antibiotics they start to pick up,and I would switch to giving pain relief only if they seem to need it.You arent meant to give it for more than 3 days if you can help it,so if he isnt in as much pain and doesnt have a fever,start to lessen the pain relief.

Some babies are more prone to ear infections and my daughter was one of them,it got to a point where just short of operating,they gave her a 1 month course of antibiotics.That was nearly 3 years ago....

 

[karlilay]

I went though this with Madi every time she cut a tooth! Takes about 2/3 days of antibiotics till they feel better. Just keep going with the calpol/nurofen. Xx

 

[rory83coyotes]

I would also add an antihistamine will help with the inflamation/fluid build up in the ear. Might try some benadryl and see if that helps.

 

[lillyttc]

I myself wanted to post about ear infection. I am really fed-up of this nasty thing. Whenever I take my daughter (who is 1 year and 15 days old) to the doctor, he tells me "she has inflammation in her ears", almost a routine thing now since she has been put in the creche (its been 3 months now). She has got cold 3 times, 2 times along with fever, she had ear infection once and probably second time now (she is having fever and she is pulling her ear and crying time and again), I have to take her to the doctor tomorrow morning as he is not working today.

I am really fed up of all this. People tell me these 'small' health problems that they get from creche are good for them to build their immunity, but I have had enough, its wasting my time, energy and taking away my calm. Last week she seemed to be fine with her cold, but she had a bad bite on her face from another girl. I am seriously considering being a SAHM for a year or 2. She was really doing well before when me and my husband were taking care of her half day each, except for 2-3 times when she had vomited probably due to bad bottle (probably not sterilized properly).

 

[Phantom]

lillyttc- yeah these "small" health problems can quickly become big problems! I'm sure my LO's ear infections started out "small" too but it ended up with us in the emergency room! Unfortunately doctors don't often care until its too late.