Help! 3rd antibiotics and he's not even 6months old!

amother

Purple

Thu, Mar 30 2017, 11:25 pm

Today my baby was put on antibiotics for the 3rd time! And he isn't even 6 months old yet. The doctor says there is fluid in his ears and one is badly infected. I was just there 3 days ago and it was the opposite ear that was bad. Now this one is worse (the one that was the clear fluid). He hasn't been clearing this fluid for almost 2 months now. I'm giving him probiotics that I started today too. Any advice??

I did lift his mattress to try to help and he barely has a cold. I'm so confused.

ectomorph

Thu, Mar 30 2017, 11:28 pm

Is he bottle fed? Try holding him upright while eating and propping him up sleeping.
He might just be super prone to ear infection.
Perhaps you can put garlic drops in his ears prophylactic

amother

Burgundy

Thu, Mar 30 2017, 11:33 pm

If by any chance you're nursing, a few drops of breast milk in the ears is amazing. If not, there are garlic drops that I believe are safe (mullein).

amother

Blush

Thu, Mar 30 2017, 11:37 pm

I would see an ENT asap. There may be a structural reason his ear is not draining fluid effectively, and all of this antibiotics is just a band aid to a bigger problem.

gold21

Fri, Mar 31 2017, 12:37 am

The structure of the ear at this age allows fluid to build up in the ear, causing infections. (The tube is horizontal instead of vertical or something like that. Don't quote me in your medical thesis, but yeah, that's the general idea.)

I think it changes around age 1 (or maybe 2). So it's not uncommon to have ear infections at this age. I guess discuss with your pediatrician for reassurance and further information.

thanks

Fri, Mar 31 2017, 4:24 am

Please give your baby probiotics. The anti-biotics are killing the good bacteria. Taking probiotics will restore the good bacteria in the gut as well as throughout the body - including the ear.

amother

Purple

Fri, Mar 31 2017, 8:39 am

Thank you everyone.
I am nursing so I can do that and I do know that when they are young the tubes are straight instead of slanted downward. So I understand that but I want to help him keep the fluid out so that it doesn't become infected. Right now the doctor really wants to clear him completely so he's on augmentin. I am giving him probiotics too and loads of cream on his bottom because it's already so red from just one day's use of the medicine.

Any other advice. Ear infection and fluid is completely new to me. I can count on one hand the number my others have had combined!

amother

Blush

Fri, Mar 31 2017, 11:36 am

amother wrote:

I'm gonna repeat my advice to see an ENT. There can be something else going on besides the usual infant angle of the tubes. Your PED will not necessarily know what to look for- that's why there are specialists.

amother

Tan

Fri, Mar 31 2017, 1:20 pm

Had that with my baby. Between 3-6 months she had 3 ear infections. Between 13-17 months she had 4 ear infections (one a month). In between, the ear was always full of fluid. Went to an ENT who recommended getting tubes in the ears. Since doing the surgery her ears have BH cleared of all fluid and we are hoping we are done with ear infections.

amother

Lemon

Fri, Mar 31 2017, 2:42 pm

From experience 2 times. Fluids in ear that don't clear has an underlying issue. He may be allergic to something.(let's say milk or something else) I went to these natural dr that test u and baby to see what's causing it. My 2 year old had Antibodics from 5 weeks straight every month almost did tubes on here. Going to this natural dr was my last choice and Bh" it helped. I went off some foods temporarly and Bh she hasn't have an ear infection since.
My baby boy now 6 months started with an ear infection last month I went with him to this natural dr too. I'm off lots of food but totally worth it if baby starts feeling better and isn't crying all day from an ear Infection. He had a rash on his face and it cleared too.

amother

Purple

Fri, Mar 31 2017, 3:13 pm

rmbg wrote:

Take him for cranio sacral treatment!

What is that?

Lemon another - can you tell me your location and who you went to?

amother

Mauve

Sat, Apr 01 2017, 3:12 pm

See an ENT. They know much more than a pediatrician about these kinds of things. My friend had an issue with her baby getting a lot of infections and something as simple as changing positions or or changing bottles etc can make a big difference.

mango

Sat, Apr 01 2017, 11:25 pm

I had the same thing with my baby. Constant ear infections last winter. Even Augmentin wasn't working and she was having to get antibiotic shots... Took her to an ENT and she got tubes at about 6 months. She had 2 infections after they were put in but is 18 months now and has not had any ear infections since before last summer. There is no doubt without them she would have had multiple ones this winter.

baschabad

Sun, Apr 02 2017, 2:18 am

Great advice on here.
Just wanted to second the advice about using garlic mullein oil drops for clearing up ear infections. Ear infections are not always bacterial and antibiotics may be doing more harm than good.

Refuah Shleima to your poor baby. :'(

amother

Aqua

Sun, Apr 02 2017, 7:12 am

I agree about the allergies. My doctor says an infant with ear infections is a sign of series allergies. I went off dairy and switched my baby's formula to hypoallergenic (I supplement). It helped my baby a lot. Please consider the allergy y.

cheeseaddict

Sun, Apr 02 2017, 10:13 am

It may be something else, but in our case it was definitely allergies!
My baby was 9 months old and had back-to-back ear infections. I happened to go off chocolate at one point and noticed that he didn't get any infections after that. NOT ONE.
Until I tried chocolate again.
Then I just waited eagerly to wean him so I could get back to it (the chocolate).

My other DC had asthma attacks so often that the Dr. wanted to prescribe a daily inhaler. Took him to get tested for allergies and turned out that the soy milk I had been giving him because I knew he was allergic to dairy was making him ill.
Stopped the soy and hasn't had an attack since (7 years).

I would definitely get it tested.

amother

Purple

Sun, Apr 02 2017, 11:01 am

So it seems milk is a major allergy and culprit in ear infections and fluid. So as of Friday I went off diary. Want to see if this will do anything. I'm guessing it takes time and the last two times he was on antibiotics his ears didn't clear completely of fluid even though the infection was gone. So I'm doing this in conjunction with the antibiotics hat he's on and I'm hoping he'll be completely clear by the time the 10 days are up. (Is that too short?) if they do clear I want to stay off of dairy for a bit and see if his ears stay clear.

Looking into these garlic drops. Do they clear fluid? Infections? Pain?

amother

Pumpkin

Sun, Apr 02 2017, 7:47 pm

Refuse shelema! Just want to mention that the rash you are seeing is probably not a regular rash, probably a yeast infection which is a common side effect of antibiotics and the regular diaper rash creams and ointments won't work for that. If it is a tinny spots type of rash call the doc and ask for some nystatin cream an a that should do the trick.