Need Help/Info. re. Ear Infection

[Daxx]

DS9 has an ear infection ... the first one he's ever had. Dr. prescribed amoxicillin 2x a day and I've been giving him motrin for pain.

My questions ... and maybe some of you can help ...

1. What else can I do to relieve any pain?

2. How do I handle showers and shampoos? Can he get water in his ear?

Any other info. and/or advice would be helpful!

Thanks so much!

 

[Christine]

As long as it's an "inner ear" infection and not an "outer" ear infection, showers and shampooing are fine. When you have an outer ear infection (usually from swimming), then you have to be very careful about water in the ear.

As for pain, Motrin really is the best thing and once the antibiotic kicks in (usually within 12 hours) the pain will go away quickly. If you don't see an improvement in 2-3 days, you should call your doctor back as sometime amoxicillan doesn't do the trick. Since this is your child's first infection, though, it should work.

 

[MerryPoppins]

We had ear infection problems with both our kids for years. You're doing the right things. The water from a bath or shower shouldn't be a problem unless it's an outer ear infection. DS still gets those sometimes, but he's a swimmer.

Heat sometimes helps. Is it both ears or just one? If it's just one, have him rest on his side with the sore ear up. Put a heating pad (or even better one of those little hand warmer things - where you snap the disc and it gets warm) in a pillowcase or small hand towel and place it on the ear. Putting the sore ear "down" puts even more stress on the eardrum and it hurts even more.

Is he congested? Sometime our doc would give medicine to dry up the sinus and that would help a little too. You want to get rid of all that fluid. That is what hurts.

Bless his heart. Hope he feels better soon.

 

[Scutapipig]

For the pain, laying with his ear on a heating pad or a hot water bottle will sometime soothe the pain.

 

[Daxx]

Thanks for the information and the well wishes!

We have some "snap disc" handwarmers (reusable) from skiing and I will crack one for him, wrap it and put it on his ear. It's an inner ear infection, so I appreciate the info. on the showers/shampoos.

Thankfully, DS is not congested ... I can imagine how that would make things worse!

Thank you, again, for the advice! We appreciate it!

Warmly,

Daxx's Wife

 

[Rachie0507]

My DS3 gets ear infections all the time and he is usually in a lot of pain and has high fevers. His doctor's office told me to alternate Motrin and Tylenol every 3 hours. I wouldn't try that without asking your DS's doctor first, but it really has gotten us through some tough times. If you DS seems to be responding well to just Motrin though, I'd just stick with that.

 

[Annette_VA]

My DS3 gets ear infections all the time and he is usually in a lot of pain and has high fevers. His doctor's office told me to alternate Motrin and Tylenol every 3 hours. I wouldn't try that without asking your DS's doctor first, but it really has gotten us through some tough times. If you DS seems to be responding well to just Motrin though, I'd just stick with that.

I was going to say the same thing. We always do this w/ an ear infection & it really helps.

More details:
For very high or stubborn fevers, alternate between Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen every three hours (i.e., give a dose of acetaminophen then three hours later give ibuprofen then three hours later acetaminophen, etc.) These two medications are safe to use together like this.
From: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T089101.asp

 

[MsLeFever]

Try filling the toe of a sock with salt and microwave it. Then rest the warmed sock on the ear - not sure why the salt especially works but it does!

0h - and here's a link for some other ideas....http://www.otan.us/webfarm/emailproject/earusa.htm

Barbara