How does one diagnose and treat this at home and how does one know that antibiotics are not the proper treatment? I have always been against overprescription of AB's, but thought they did have some legitimate uses. Thus, I am attempting to learn from some of you mamas who have studied non-allopathic approaches and who believe AB's are rarely (or maybe never?) needed.
How to treat a baby's ear infection
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I'm sure you'll get more help from other moms here, but what I can tell you is that at least 50% of all ear infections are caused by viruses so antibiotics won't help anyways.
If your dc has a fever than don't give tylenol or do anything to keep it down - the fever will help control & kill whatever bug has caused the ear infection.
Not sure how old your dc is, but one approach I've read is called "watchful waiting" which basically means keeping an eye on your dc for a couple days before taking him or her to the dr... but I know with younger children this recommendation is different. Hopefully someone can post some homeopathic info for you, I'm rather lacking in that area.
If your dc has a fever than don't give tylenol or do anything to keep it down - the fever will help control & kill whatever bug has caused the ear infection.
Not sure how old your dc is, but one approach I've read is called "watchful waiting" which basically means keeping an eye on your dc for a couple days before taking him or her to the dr... but I know with younger children this recommendation is different. Hopefully someone can post some homeopathic info for you, I'm rather lacking in that area.
My daughter just had an ear infection. It of course started on a Sat. night and my naturopath was closed. We already had some Similasan ear drops so I used those and gave her some Echinacea that her doctor has prescribed to her earlier in the month. (dd has had a rough summer.
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) I finally gave her some children's advil for the pain (she didn't have a fever) so she could get some sleep and start healing.
In the morning she complained, I gave her more drops, and another dose of Echinacea and two hours later she was fine. My naturopath returned my call Monday morning and told me to keep her on the Echinacea for 10 days just to make sure we get whatever is hanging around in her body, (She has gone from sore throat, to a flu like bug, to impetigo, the ear ache, then the poor baby got a cold sore.) We are still taking it, but the ear ache was gone by the next day.
ETA: I see your baby is only 5 months old. I don't think "I" would give her echinacea without a doctor's advice. I would go head with the drops though. Highlands also makes ear drops.
In the morning she complained, I gave her more drops, and another dose of Echinacea and two hours later she was fine. My naturopath returned my call Monday morning and told me to keep her on the Echinacea for 10 days just to make sure we get whatever is hanging around in her body, (She has gone from sore throat, to a flu like bug, to impetigo, the ear ache, then the poor baby got a cold sore.) We are still taking it, but the ear ache was gone by the next day.
ETA: I see your baby is only 5 months old. I don't think "I" would give her echinacea without a doctor's advice. I would go head with the drops though. Highlands also makes ear drops.
80% of ear infections go away without any treatment at all; you'll find that even mainstream health sites acknowledge this:
http://health.yahoo.com/topic/hearin...hwise/hw184529
Probiotics look to be helpful in preventing recurrence.
http://www.current-reports.com/artic...TOKEN=50837876
Neither of my kids has ever had an ear infection to my knowledge, but if they did get one I'd probably call our holistic ped for a recommendation of a homeopathic remedy.
http://health.yahoo.com/topic/hearin...hwise/hw184529
Probiotics look to be helpful in preventing recurrence.
http://www.current-reports.com/artic...TOKEN=50837876
Neither of my kids has ever had an ear infection to my knowledge, but if they did get one I'd probably call our holistic ped for a recommendation of a homeopathic remedy.
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A few months ago, my 2 year old woke up in the middle of the night screaming, tugging his ear and kept saying his ear hurt. I heated up some olive oil with garlic and put the oil in his ear and he was fine within a 2-3 hours. He didn't complain at all the next day.
If there is an infection, the garlic will likely take care of it.
If there is an infection, the garlic will likely take care of it.
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put some breastmilk in there a few times a day.
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we gave him hylands earache tablets, and also just fed him alot (ive heard that the fluid and also the swallowing action helps clear the fluid). He did get given ab's, but he had a chest infection at the same time as the ear infection.
Whenever I would get one as a kid, my mum would give me a warm compress, and also put some warm cod liver oil in my ear (don't ask me why!) but it worked. I used to also put some cotton wool in the affected ear to help keep out drafts, the cold drafts used to make it hurt more. When i was older, i just took a pain reliver if it was absoutly making my skin crawl pain, but usually i drunk lots of water and did the hot compresses.
edit: i did give ds some tylenol when he had his, but he had a severe chest infection and fever at the same time, and his poor little chest and throat was hurting from coughing and vomiting up the phlem.
Whenever I would get one as a kid, my mum would give me a warm compress, and also put some warm cod liver oil in my ear (don't ask me why!) but it worked. I used to also put some cotton wool in the affected ear to help keep out drafts, the cold drafts used to make it hurt more. When i was older, i just took a pain reliver if it was absoutly making my skin crawl pain, but usually i drunk lots of water and did the hot compresses.
edit: i did give ds some tylenol when he had his, but he had a severe chest infection and fever at the same time, and his poor little chest and throat was hurting from coughing and vomiting up the phlem.
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I have heard this on and off and now I have to ask. What the heck is cotton wool?
Originally Posted by romans_mum we gave him hylands earache tablets, and also just fed him alot. He did get given ab's, but he had a chest infection at the same time as the ear infection. Whenever I would get one as a kid, my mum would give me a warm compress, and also put some warm cod liver oil in my ear (don't ask me why!) but it worked. I used to also put some cotton wool in the affected ear to help keep out drafts, the cold drafts used to make it hurt more. |
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ummm cottol balls....the little fluffy cotton they put in your mouth when your at the dentist. its the little balled up type version of whats on the end of a q-tip
Originally Posted by aniT I have heard this on and off and now I have to ask. What the heck is cotton wool? |
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yeah, sorry, the kiwi in me came out.....we call it cotton wool at home. we also have this awesome stuff called raughleighs (sp?) and its kinda like vicks vaporub, but it can be used on burns, cuts, grazes and for sinuses etc. It says on the tin, that you can put that on a cotton ball and put that in your ear, and it helps......truely, i did it most my life! I wish i could get some
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Originally Posted by aniT Oh, you mean cotton balls. 
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For prevention (yeah, not your question, but I had such a good experience that I want to share), a chiropractor or a doctor who does cranial-sacral work may be helpful. My daughter had her first ear infection at 5 months and another at 7 months, and I really didn't want to get into an ugly cycle of repeated ear infections for years. I found a local doc who did cranial-sacral work, and with about a half dozen appointments (all back when she was 6 to 9 or 10 mos old, nothing recent), we've been ear infection free for 2+ years now. A lot of folks have had similar experiences with chiropractors as well.
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I've found a big part of preventing mine was to ensure i was eating well, and getting enough rest, whenever i got run down i would get them again. In winter a big cause was not covering my ears from the cold harsh winds. But ive lived with ear infections for all my life.....im not sure if it has something to do with me being a preemie or just my ears.
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My 2.5 year old non vaxed daughter has never had an ear infection either. Hrmmm, wonder what that says.
Originally Posted by TanyaLopez For prevention (yeah, not your question, but I had such a good experience that I want to share), a chiropractor or a doctor who does cranial-sacral work may be helpful. My daughter had her first ear infection at 5 months and another at 7 months, and I really didn't want to get into an ugly cycle of repeated ear infections for years. I found a local doc who did cranial-sacral work, and with about a half dozen appointments (all back when she was 6 to 9 or 10 mos old, nothing recent), we've been ear infection free for 2+ years now. A lot of folks have had similar experiences with chiropractors as well. |
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My unvaxed 3y3mth had his first earache a few weeks back, I gave him homeopathic Pulsatilla (the classic homeopathic ear infection remedy) over the course of 6hrs (it came on at 8pm) and was fine by morning. I didn't have any garlic in the house at the time otherwise I would have made up the olive oil/garlic mix. My 16mth old hasn't had sore ears yet. Oh, my kids eat a lot of probioitic yoghurt too...
As a child I remember suffering ear infections a lot and was on AB's for them everytime from what my mum tells me. So, I'm pleased we haven't started down that route yet.
As a child I remember suffering ear infections a lot and was on AB's for them everytime from what my mum tells me. So, I'm pleased we haven't started down that route yet.
One trick my daughter used sometimes: when a baby gets a cold they can have trouble with drainage when they sleep, which can contribute to ear infections. She used the car seat to prop them up just a little to promote drainage. This also helps sleep because it keeps the nasal passages open.
Deborah
Deborah
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In 8 years and 3 children, we've had one ear infection, knock on wood. I learned lots of things to help, as it was a double ear infection.
Very gently warmed garlic oil, or ear oil (I think it's a combination of mullein and garlic in a carrier oil)
Warm compresses
Cotton balls in ears to prevent drafts
Lots of fluids
Echinacea, garlic, grapefruit seed extract
Probiotics (homemade 24 hr. yogurt, kefir, etc.)
Jumping on a trampoline or bed (helps with drainage, as young children's eustachian tubes are more horizontal, thus more prone to fluid collection)
Sleeping on an incline (prop up the mattress with several pillows, or put an infant in a carseat)
Very gently warmed garlic oil, or ear oil (I think it's a combination of mullein and garlic in a carrier oil)
Warm compresses
Cotton balls in ears to prevent drafts
Lots of fluids
Echinacea, garlic, grapefruit seed extract
Probiotics (homemade 24 hr. yogurt, kefir, etc.)
Jumping on a trampoline or bed (helps with drainage, as young children's eustachian tubes are more horizontal, thus more prone to fluid collection)
Sleeping on an incline (prop up the mattress with several pillows, or put an infant in a carseat)
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in the past i have used warm EVOO and garlic. I know its worked because i took my daughter in about a month later because she had trouble hearing and he said there was evidence that there had been an ear infection and whatever i had done had worked, but there was fluid left over that usually takes weeks to clear up. This week however i tried the oil and it was too late to do any good, her ear drumb burst and she was oozing puss. i went strait into the doctor and got antibiotics, didnt know what else to do when it got that serious.
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