Chronic Ear Infections

[marispel]

I posted a couple weeks ago about my DS with ear infections. It has been a couple weeks and he had a follow up appt this morning. There is still fluid and now puss in his ears. We are on a 5th round of antibiotics called "Suprax". The Dr. explained that this was the last round before she sends him to a specialist.

UGH. We have been doing the garlic ear drops, also started daily vitamin drops. He had a bad runny nose/watery eyes on Sunday, but it cleared up the next day.

Poor little guy just can't stay well enough to get his ears to drain. The Dr. is now calling it "Chronic Ear Infections" and it could get pretty serious if it doesn't clear up.

Has anyone else had this happen? Did you end up getting tubes?

I'm questioning whether or not to pull him out of daycare for a few weeks. Ugh. I need to work, but I don't want my DS to have hearing problems. I spoke with one of the daycare reps and she said we would have to pay 50% for 2 wks and if we wanted to pull him out altogether we had to give a 30day notice. WTH - he has missed so much daycare already because of his colds.

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

[Girlprof]

Our DD has also had a ton of ear infections. We are right on the verge of tubes. We were going to schedule them in December, in fact, but then everyone's schedule got complicated with the holidays and then her ears cleared up. I had her back at the ped last week with what I thought was an ear infection, but it was just a virus - no infection. So, we're still on the fence.

Everyone I have talked to who has done tubes has been really positive about it. Apparently the procedure isn't that big of a deal and the results are great. I honestly think that some kids are probably destined to get ear infections if their ears are shaped a certain way. There is no way we could pull our daughter from daycare, even if we wanted to, since we both work FT.

Of course I'm kind of scared about the possibility of tubes, especially since DD has a gross motor delay and that makes me more nervous about everything regarding her health. I sure don't want to damage her hearing. So, we keep waiting. One more bad infection and we're getting the tubes - that's been our position since October so we'll see how the next few weeks/months go. Good luck figuring out what to do. It's a tough choice.

[kgreenemama]

I have an appointment scheduled with a Ped. ENT next week. DS (21 mo) just finished antibiotics for his third ear infection this season. Last year, he had four. He has really small outer ears (when he was born, they were actually kinda folded up like a rosebud - funny looking, but they've "bloomed" now and they're just small), which makes me wonder if the inner ear is small, too. He's also very waxy all the time, and I do not mess with trying to get wax out.

I dread the idea of surgery, despite the fact that I, too, have heard nothing but positive experiences from friends/coworkers whose kids have had tubes. My FIL died under general anesthesia three years ago during a routine surgery, and even though we know the statistics are in our favor, but my husband is dreadfully nervous about our son going under g.a.

I'll be watching this thread and be sure to post after we see our ENT next week if she has some advice.

[catballou24]

have you tried a chiropractor? i know a couple of families who had similar issues with what you are experiencing and before doing the tubes, took their dc to the chiro and was able to clear it all up with regular visits.

[LaurieG]

Hugs to you Mama. I'm sorry. I know the stress. My DD was getting chronic ear infections for awhile. At one point she had 3 rounds of abx before things cleared. Since then I've made some changes to my treatment - I'm guessing you've had these things suggested before but I'll run them down just in case there's something helpful there...
1. Daily probiotic to improve gut health and overall immunity
2. Vitamin C to boost immunity
3. Breast milk in the ear twice daily at the first sign of possible ear infection (btw, this alone will clear the infection in 24 hrs in my DD - don't know if you have BM available to you but this has been the single most helpful measure we do now).
4. Clean humidifier running at nap and overnight
5. Eliminated all traces of milk from her diet.

My DD also clearly has GI responses to milk and other things so we were already doing the elimination but missing some trace exposures. Last spring I figured out one of her medications had lactose in it and once we switched her off that she made some more improvement.

At this point DD hasn't had an ear infection that I couldn't clear with the above measures since she was about 13 months old. Unfortunately, she still has had fluid in the ears or negative pressure this whole time so we may be doing tubes regardless. We see the ENT next week (she had released us about the ears) about her tonsils which are huge and might be contributing to the fluid build up. I'm guessing we're looking at surgery now - tonsils, adenoids, and possibly tubes - but at least we were able to put it off for over a year.

I personally don't think I would pull him out of daycare. It sounds like your DS is going to have trouble regardless of what germs he is exposed to. Its unrealistic to think you're going to keep him from ever getting a cold. It sounds like it would be difficult for you to make that switch and I doubt it would be that helpful.

Good luck -

[claddaghmom]

Originally Posted by LaurieG

Hugs to you Mama. I'm sorry. I know the stress. My DD was getting chronic ear infections for awhile. At one point she had 3 rounds of abx before things cleared. Since then I've made some changes to my treatment - I'm guessing you've had these things suggested before but I'll run them down just in case there's something helpful there...
1. Daily probiotic to improve gut health and overall immunity
2. Vitamin C to boost immunity
3. Breast milk in the ear twice daily at the first sign of possible ear infection (btw, this alone will clear the infection in 24 hrs in my DD - don't know if you have BM available to you but this has been the single most helpful measure we do now).
4. Clean humidifier running at nap and overnight
5. Eliminated all traces of milk from her diet.

My DD also clearly has GI responses to milk and other things so we were already doing the elimination but missing some trace exposures. Last spring I figured out one of her medications had lactose in it and once we switched her off that she made some more improvement.

At this point DD hasn't had an ear infection that I couldn't clear with the above measures since she was about 13 months old. Unfortunately, she still has had fluid in the ears or negative pressure this whole time so we may be doing tubes regardless. We see the ENT next week (she had released us about the ears) about her tonsils which are huge and might be contributing to the fluid build up. I'm guessing we're looking at surgery now - tonsils, adenoids, and possibly tubes - but at least we were able to put it off for over a year.

I personally don't think I would pull him out of daycare. It sounds like your DS is going to have trouble regardless of what germs he is exposed to. Its unrealistic to think you're going to keep him from ever getting a cold. It sounds like it would be difficult for you to make that switch and I doubt it would be that helpful.

Good luck -

I agree with the advice in this post. DD has been sick a couple times and each time came with an ear infection. The first thing I do when I see her tugging on her ear is put a few drops of milk in her ear.

I would also look into chiropractic. And if he has received any of the bacterial vaccines, he might need additional vitamin supplementation.

The hanna andersson pilot caps are awesome, too. I give one to all my pregnant mamas.

ETA: have you eliminated dairy to see what happens?

[marispel]

Thanks for all your input ladies. I'm still coming to terms with the daycare, but everyone is probably right - pulling him out of daycare won't solve the problem.

We did start giving him Probiotics a few days ago and started a multi vitamin a couple weeks ago. I'm hoping that will help improve his immune system so that he can start fighting these colds better.

My sister took her youngest to a chiropractor for ear infections and it helped tremendously, so I will definitely look into that if this last round of antibiotics doesn't help the infection.

[Sweetmama26]

My son has had chronic ear infections since 6 months, I had them growing up and my mother had them her whole life too, so they are genetic for us, we opted for tubes as I've had them growing up and I know what the issues are with them. Personally I'm for tubes as chronic ear infections can cause damage to the ear drums which results in hearing issues later on. Currently I have my 7th set of tubes in and hear better now then I did while they were out due to numerous ear infections before they got put back in. My son is due to get his tubes in March.

[hrsmom]

I am not a physician, but I am an audiologist... one of the problems with treating ear infections solely with antibiotics is that often times the fluid in the ear isn't even infected. It's thick and stuck there in the middle ear, and needs help getting out. That's where tubes can be helpful. Something like a decongestant and an antihistimine is what helps get that stuff out.

I third or fourth or whatever the chiro recommendation!

[malayasmommy]

We decided to go for tubes for my daughter after 5 months of constant ear infections and antibiotics. We did the chiropractor route, and while it helped (I think it made the infections shorter and helped drain fluid), she got infections nonetheless. I had tubes numerous times as a child, and was actually told by the chiropractor that some people have misshapen ear canals (zig zaggy rather than a straight tube) that don't drain effectively. I do have some hearing loss as a result of constant ear infections as a child and wanted to avoid that for my daughter. Although general aneathesia was scary, I felt it was better than consistent antibiotics and/or hearing loss. Just my experience.

[hrsmom]

Originally Posted by malayasmommy

We decided to go for tubes for my daughter after 5 months of constant ear infections and antibiotics. We did the chiropractor route, and while it helped (I think it made the infections shorter and helped drain fluid), she got infections nonetheless. I had tubes numerous times as a child, and was actually told by the chiropractor that some people have misshapen ear canals (zig zaggy rather than a straight tube) that don't drain effectively. I do have some hearing loss as a result of constant ear infections as a child and wanted to avoid that for my daughter. Although general aneathesia was scary, I felt it was better than consistent antibiotics and/or hearing loss. Just my experience.

It's a very personal decision for sure. Permanent hearing loss as a result of ear infections in childhood is very rare, in the United States anyway. The more common problem is speech and language delay.

The fluid doesn't drain via the ear canal (unless there's a hole in the eardrum due to rupture or tube placement) and curvy ear canals are the norm.

[Sweetmama26]

Originally Posted by hrsmom

It's a very personal decision for sure. Permanent hearing loss as a result of ear infections in childhood is very rare, in the United States anyway. The more common problem is speech and language delay.

The fluid doesn't drain via the ear canal (unless there's a hole in the eardrum due to rupture or tube placement) and curvy ear canals are the norm.

I'm going to disagree with you and both the ENTs I've talked to have agreed, this is actually where I got my information from, since you aren't a medical professional that specializes in the field of ear infections please don't sit there and say that hearing loss is rare due to ear infections because as someone who suffers with less then 40% hearing in both my ears due to numerous ear infections it is not in fact rare. Ear infections cause scar tissue, which in turn causes hearing loss. And yes fluid does drain via the ear canal through the eustacian tube which is where most infections happen. My ENT was appalled when the Audiologist I went to see for my hearing recommended me a hearing aid over tubes, because my hearing loss was and continues to be due to chronic ear infections.

Anyways I'm not trying to berate so please don't take offence to what I'm saying, I'm just trying to give you from the perspective of someone who lives daily with hearing loss due to infections.

[jecombs]

My DD got tubes at the tender age of 10 mo. old, after 6 months of chronic EIs. My DH also had chronic EIs throughout childhood, as did his father, and his niece. We believe there is something genetic going on with the structure of DH's ears and eustation tubes. DH and his father also have permanent hearing loss due to the recurrent EIs in childhood and DH did have a speech/lang. delay as a child. That was not something we wanted out DD to go through, so we opted for the tubes.

I was very nervous about the surgery, but everything went great! It still took 4 mo. after the surgery to get DD's ears cleared up, because the infection was so deep in the inner ear. But she has not had an EI since Aug. 2008!!! And, almost two years later, the tubes are still in. The amount of sounds DD started making and her language just exploded when the EIs cleared-up. It was definitely the right choice for our family.

[Sweetmama26]

Originally Posted by jecombs

My DD got tubes at the tender age of 10 mo. old, after 6 months of chronic EIs. My DH also had chronic EIs throughout childhood, as did his father, and his niece. We believe there is something genetic going on with the structure of DH's ears and eustation tubes. DH and his father also have permanent hearing loss due to the recurrent EIs in childhood and DH did have a speech/lang. delay as a child. That was not something we wanted out DD to go through, so we opted for the tubes.

I was very nervous about the surgery, but everything went great! It still took 4 mo. after the surgery to get DD's ears cleared up, because the infection was so deep in the inner ear. But she has not had an EI since Aug. 2008!!! And, almost two years later, the tubes are still in. The amount of sounds DD started making and her language just exploded when the EIs cleared-up. It was definitely the right choice for our family.

The only thing I think I'm nervous about is the fact that my son will only be 16 months when he gets his tubes but he's already had issues with hearing and the fact that since I got my tubes in I've had a ear infection that's only now being cleared up and I don't want him to have to go through that, but I don't want him to have to go through any more ear infections either, so I think personally this is best for us as well.

[kgreenemama]

Just thought I'd let others know what to expect from a visit to a ped ENT. My 21 mo. DS saw her today. He just finished abx for his third ear infection in a row. She did a test to see if fluid is still behind his eardrum. There is for one ear (the one that has been infected, of course). She also had a hearing test run, and it came back normal. That was our greatest concern - that the fluid is hindering his speech or hearing. She said she uses a conservative approach to tubes - four ear infections within 6 months, particularly ones that do not respond to abx. We're going back in in six weeks to have the fluid checked again - by then any remnants of fluid ought to be gone from this past infection.

[Artichokie]

Originally Posted by catballou24

have you tried a chiropractor? i know a couple of families who had similar issues with what you are experiencing and before doing the tubes, took their dc to the chiro and was able to clear it all up with regular visits.

This! you need to make sure you find a chiropractor with a holistic pov, though. my first chiropractor really just cracked backs and was as medically minded as any mainstream dr. My new chiropractor is AMAZING. he adjusted my dd's ears today and the difference is really shocking.

[hrsmom]

Originally Posted by Sweetmama26

I'm going to disagree with you and both the ENTs I've talked to have agreed, this is actually where I got my information from, since you aren't a medical professional that specializes in the field of ear infections please don't sit there and say that hearing loss is rare due to ear infections because as someone who suffers with less then 40% hearing in both my ears due to numerous ear infections it is not in fact rare. Ear infections cause scar tissue, which in turn causes hearing loss. And yes fluid does drain via the ear canal through the eustacian tube which is where most infections happen. My ENT was appalled when the Audiologist I went to see for my hearing recommended me a hearing aid over tubes, because my hearing loss was and continues to be due to chronic ear infections.

Anyways I'm not trying to berate so please don't take offence to what I'm saying, I'm just trying to give you from the perspective of someone who lives daily with hearing loss due to infections.

No offense taken. It's a matter of perspective. Now that I think about it, people with hearing loss from infections are more likely to see an ENT than an audiologist. (I do have a doctorate in audiology and do specialize in hearing loss and have for 14 years, so my statements are not made without education and experience. I was trying to be helpful to the OP, not deny your own experience with hearing loss.) I have seen thousands of patients with the most scarred up eardrums you could imagine, with perfectly normal hearing. Even working in an ENT practice, I haven't seen anyone with permanent hearing loss from ear infections, but I haven't seen THAT many ENT patients in my career. (FWIW I always recommend an ENT consultation if there's even the remotest chance that the hearing loss is treatable medically.) I'm curious how common permanent hearing loss is from ear infections now!

The ear canal and the Eustachian tube are not connected, and are separated by the entire middle ear space and the eardrum. It's when the tissues around the E. tube swell and don't allow for ventilation that another means of ventilating the ear canal is needed. The E. tube drains into the throat, the ear canal dead ends at the eardrum. Well, I could go on and on, but I won't!!

I think I will bow out of this discussion. I can't stand to see misinformation, but I don't want to take away from the OP's questions and concerns. The real issue is the fluid in the ear and making sure that goes away.

ETA- I wrote an article about the middle ear and fluid in the ears, anyone feel free to pm me if you're interested in the link.

[jecombs]

Originally Posted by Sweetmama26

The only thing I think I'm nervous about is the fact that my son will only be 16 months when he gets his tubes but he's already had issues with hearing and the fact that since I got my tubes in I've had a ear infection that's only now being cleared up and I don't want him to have to go through that, but I don't want him to have to go through any more ear infections either, so I think personally this is best for us as well.

I think one of the things I like best about the tubes is the fact that we finally got to stop treating DD's EIs with systemic (oral) antibiotics. We were able to get her cleared-up with antibiotic drops that we put in the ear canal, which then flowed through the tube to the inner ear. It was also completely obvious when DD had an EI, because the tube allowed us to see the drainage of fluid. It was nice not to be guessing anymore when she got fussy and just waiting for her to get a fever.

DD also had some hearing loss, which is what pushed us over the edge to get the tubes. It cleared up as soon as the fluid was able to drain from her ears and the the infections went away.

[*MamaJen*]

I think DS is headed for tubes. He had one ear infection at two months, then he didn't have any for a while, but I think he's on his fourth in about six months. We have a dr's visit this afternoon.
I had chronic ear infections when I was a kid, and had tubes, so I think he may have inherited it from me. It makes me kind of mad, it's like, you've been breastfed for more than two years, what are you doing getting ear infections?
I have a pretty high deductible, so it'll be a bit pricey, but better tubes than him constantly feeling bad and having hearing loss.

[SFRosie]

I know exactly what you are going through. My DD had chronic colds that always ended with double ear infections since I went back to work when she was 3 months old. I was missing 2 to 3 days of work every 3 weeks or so. I felt so bad for my babygirl because she would only feel well for a week or so each month. Finally at 9 months old we were referred to an ENT and we had the tubes put in the week after our consult. She was 9 1/2 months old and though we were afraid of having her put under general anesthesia, we knew it was the right decision. After the surgery, she was like a brand new baby! She was so happy and started walking a couple weeks later. She is now 14 months old and she hasn't had an ear infection since even though she has had several colds over the winter.

The procedure itself is very quick. It took longer for them to put her under and bring her out of the GA than the actual placement of the tubes. We went back a few days later for the follow-up and we are going this Friday for her 3 month appt.