how long do you wait to take son to dr for ear infection

[emmababy]

My ds is 7 months and has a cold with a low fever- 101'ish. Every time my son gets a cold, my sitter wants me to take him to the dr and see if he has an ear infection. He has never had an ear infection yet (knock on wood).

Well, we are going to WDW next week (yeah!). So, I was wondering, if his cold doesnt go away, at what point do you take your kids to the dr to see if he has an ear infection?

 

[olivekeeper]

With my kids (especially at the age of yours) when a fever hits 101 I call the Dr and see if I should bring them in. Most of the time when a baby has a fever of 101 or more they want you to bring them in.

since you are leaving for Disney in just a few days I would play it on the safe side and take him to the Dr. You don't want to get to Disney and have to take him to the ER because of a bad ear infection.

At least you will know if it is or not, it could be something other than an ear infection, since there is a fever, I would at least call.

Of course this is my opinion. I know I hate paying the 25 dollar co-pay to find out its nothing, but then don't mind if it was a good thing that I went in.

 

[Lstar311]

Is he having trouble sleeping? Friday night my son was up literally every hour and a half so I knew trouble was lurking. Sure enough he has an ear infection. I say go in, especially since you are going to Disney soon, you want any possible infections under control, especially if you are going to fly. Good luck, I hope your LO feels better soon!

 

[deedeetoo]

I never took my kids to the doctors for ear infections until they complained that their ears hurt. Obviously your son is too young to verbalize the pain, but they will cry, not be able to sleep (the pain gets worse when they are horizontal), and pull at their ears.

But if you get the feeling that something isn't right I would trust your mother's intuition and take him in. Once, a few days before we were to leave on a vacation, my ds woke up covered with a rash, and said his throat hurt. He had no fever but I just felt something wasn't right. I took him to the doctor and found out he had strep. Fortunately we had time to get antibiotics and get past the contagious period before our trip started. Trust your intuition.

 

[mjkacmom]

I rarely take my kids in for ear infections unless they're hurting for a couple of days - most are viral, and clear up on their own, and I don't like to use antibiotics if I don't have to. However, if we were going on vacation, I'd take him in, just to be sure.

 

[stmize]

voting to take in to the dr. Hope your child get better soon

 

[DebRMN]

I never took my kids to the doctors for ear infections until they complained that their ears hurt. Obviously your son is too young to verbalize the pain, but they will cry, not be able to sleep (the pain gets worse when they are horizontal), and pull at their ears.

But if you get the feeling that something isn't right I would trust your mother's intuition and take him in. Once, a few days before we were to leave on a vacation, my ds woke up covered with a rash, and said his throat hurt. He had no fever but I just felt something wasn't right. I took him to the doctor and found out he had strep. Fortunately we had time to get antibiotics and get past the contagious period before our trip started. Trust your intuition.

I rarely take my kids in for ear infections unless they're hurting for a couple of days - most are viral, and clear up on their own, and I don't like to use antibiotics if I don't have to. However, if we were going on vacation, I'd take him in, just to be sure.

i agree with these two posters 100%

 

[LPNmom]

Is you child eating, sleeping, or pulling on their ear? These are the usual questions I ask myself when bringing in my children into the dr. But better be safe then sorry, call the dr office and talk with the nurse, they can usually tell you if there is something going on in the community, and if you need to bring your little one in. Hope this helps, and your little one gets better soon!

 

[emmababy]

The past two times I have taken him to the dr, no ear infections. It is hard to figure out if he is uncomfortable due to teeth or ears. He has been fussy, has a little fever, cough. I just don't want him to be sick. Maybe I will wait a day and see how he is doing....

 

[pixiewings71]

While just because he has a fever doesn't mean he has an ear infection it's always a good idea to call the drs office and ask. Especially since you're going on vacation soon. I'd give it a day or 2 and see what he does and how his fever is but by day 3 I'm making an appt. BTW, you don't always have a fever with an ear infection, DD9 just finished her meds today for her ear infection that she had with NO symptoms. One day she said "Mom my ear hurts" and so I took her in, yup, infected.

 

[HGD24]

We call our pedi if DD has a fever of 101 or higher, no matter what other symptoms she might or might not be exhibiting. She has chronic ear infections, so after a couple of nights of not sleeping well and being fussy, we bring her in and sure enough, she always has an EI. Sometimes she runs a fever with them, sometimes she doesn't.

In Oct, she was being fussy and not sleeping well so we took her in 3.5 hrs before our flight to WDW left and sure enough she had an EI! We were glad to have gotten her diagnosed and gotten her meds before we were out of state. Like others have said, if you're ok with it, see how he does for another day or so and if he doesn't improve, call your pedi. If you're not comfortable waiting, call them and see what they say. Good luck! I hope he feels better soon!

 

[Poohbug]

I usually do not take the kids in for an ear infection unless they complain for more than 24 hrs.

Usually they only complain of their ear hurting for one night-the next day it is gone.

However, since you are going on a trip, I would check with the doctor. If you are flying, definately take them to the Dr.-the pressure on an airplane will make any pain much, much worse and the flight will be horrible for everyone.

 

[mom_of_3_70737]

Are you driving or flying? If you are flying, then I would personally bring him in. Maybe the doc can help clear up some of that congestion. If you are flying, the last think you want is for him to have a lot of head congestion or fluid in his ears. Even if he doesn't have an ear infection and it is just fluid it could be very painful for him during the flight. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[3boymthr]

Every kid is different and you have to judge your son by your past experience with his illnesses. You have to go by instinct.
You know your son best don't let anyone convince you to go to the drs with him if you don't think he needs it. For example, DS#1 had so many infections he ended up with tubes - but never got a fever with the infections. He'd start fussing and flapping his hands toward his ears. It got to the point I knew exactly what his behavior meant. The dr didn't even have to see him to call in a prescription. With my second son (who never got an ear infection) to this day I don't bother calling until we get past the 48 hr point with a high fever (over 101) because he gets one with every cold. People used to say to me but aren't you going to take him in, I'd be like nope, he'll be fine, in another day his nose will start to run and he'll start coughing.

OTH - If you don't think he has an infection but do want some reassurance it usually doesn't cost anything to call and ask to speak to a nurse. Tell the receptionist you have some questions for the nurse and ask if one can call you back. Many times I've averted a trip to the Drs. office simply by talking to the nurse. If the nurse recommends a visit then take him in. I usually start out these conversations by saying that I need recommendations to make him comfortable at night; if there are any medications that can be given to alleviate congestion; how long should I let it go before I take him in, etc. Make sure to tell them you are traveling and are concerned about the effects of travel on the cold. Good Luck

 

[emmababy]

Ok, I took him in and he does have an ear infection. The NP said it looks to be getting better and to avoid the antibiotics for a day to see if he gets better. She said the antibiotics give babies diarehea.

 

[sdoll]

Don't you feel better that you took him in. My mom rarely took us to the Drs and when I had my first I thought that was right. Well I have a child that really doesn't complain with an ear infection. Never has cried with one but is on his 3rd set of tubes. We call him a freak.... it stinks because we often don't know if he has one. So we spend the co-pay (which kills me) but 9/10 times he has an ear infection. Now you can travel with out worrying. Have a great trip I hope your little one feels better.

 

[emmababy]

Now, do I put him on the antibiotics or not? The nurse practitioner said that it is viral, and the antibiotics won't really help. So, now I wonder why I even took him to the dr??

 

[msmama]

I'm not usually an antibiotics person, but because of your trip I'd probably do it.

My guy had a little bit of a cold on our trip and I'm convinced that and the flying led to an ear infection which a month later we're still fighting.

 

[mom_of_3_70737]

Now, do I put him on the antibiotics or not? The nurse practitioner said that it is viral, and the antibiotics won't really help. So, now I wonder why I even took him to the dr??

The NP probably meant that the cough, runny nose ect.is viral. Antibiotics will not help that. It has to run it's course so to speak. The ear infection though is an infection in the ears and that is most probably what the antibiotics are for.

We have had our share of countless ear infections on our house....two of my three ended up with tubes. To be honest, I am suprised that she said that antibiotics give babies diarreah. Was she talking about antibiotics in general or the one that was prescribed for your DS? We have used many anitbiotics and I can only think of 2 that caused any stomach upset or diarreah. I always made sure I give it to the mith a meal though.

IMHO If he is still running a fever today, I would start him on the meds being that your trip is so soon. I would definitely want his ears as clear as I could get them before travel. Again, that is just my opinion, everyone is different. Good luck and I hope you have a great trip!

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Now, do I put him on the antibiotics or not? The nurse practitioner said that it is viral, and the antibiotics won't really help. So, now I wonder why I even took him to the dr??

I wonder this too. My kids both were sick with a fever, runny nose etc, and after a 2 days the fever went away. On the 2nd day of the fever my oldest DS said his ear hurt. The next day the ear felt fine, and fever was gone. 2 days later I took them both to the doctor for a annual checkup, and the doctor said both boys had an ear infection. At that point neither had a fever or ear pain. The younger one never had ear pain at all. If we didn't have the check up appt, I would not have brought them to the doctor at all. The doctor told me they both needed an antibiotic. I did give them the antibiotic, but I wonder if they really needed it. I think I did the wrong thing.

Ear infections are often viral, and antibiotics won't help. Sometimes they are bacterial, and then you would need the antibiotic. The problem is how do you know the difference.

In your case, since you are going on vacation, I would give him the antibiotic and be done with it. That's what I would do. If you weren't going on vacation soon, then I would wait and see.