OT: ear infections

[toesmom]

Just had a mom visit with sick 10 month old who has fever and diagnosed with ear infection, just started amoxicilin. I asked the mom if she gave the little one tempra or tylenol. She said no, only planned on giving prescription.

I suffered from ear infection when my dd was 2. I have to say it was the most painful thing I've experienced. I relayed that information to the mom and she had no idea that ear infections were so painful.

So for all parents out there, ear infections can be extremely painful for children. I remember how awful and intense the pain was, only Tylenol 3's seemed to take away the pain. Until the penicillin kicks in, give them some pain relief. I think this mom today will have a more peaceful evening now.

 

[alecam]

I Totally agree!! I had them alot as a child, had tubes,etc. I hadn'y had one in over twenty years, but I had one last year. It was soooo painful, I ended up on tears!! I also did not realize how painful they could be! Now when my kids complain (Which is often (DD5 has had three sets of tubes, DD4 has had two sets)), I automatically medicate them for the pain! I'll never forget it!!

 

[adisneymama]

I definitely give motrin to DD if she is running fever with an ear infection or if she is acting like she is hurting (not playing or crying for example). However, if there is no fever and she is playing and acting like normal I do not give it to her. I agree you need to realize that there might be pain with it and be prepared to give the meds if needed.

 

[frayedend]

I can't imagine how a parent would not realize the child is in pain. With the screaming and crying that comes along with ear infections, it's most obvious.

We had to give both Tylenol and Advil. What a nightmare. Thank God (or science, or whoever) for the tubes!!!

 

[NotUrsula]

The best thing, though you need an Rx for it in the US, is a topical analgesic such as Auralgan. It will totally mask the pain, though, and is not recommended for use on children for more than a day or so without a dr's supervision. (You don't want to just use the drops and not see the ped at all; the drum could rupture if the infection is severe.)

I have Meniere's, and I get ear pain quite frequently. I keep a bottle of generic analgesic eardrops in the house at all times.

 

[Trena]

My son would have 2 full blown ear infections and hadn't complained at all! I took him to the doctor, it was obvious he was sick, I just didn't know if it was sinus, sore throat, or what! The doctor said it was so bad, she was surprised he hadn't been screaming in pain. Now, if he ever complains about ear pain we get to the doctor that day. He has a history of ear infections and the doctor says one more, and he'll get tubes.

I do give him tylenol, even if he isn't complaining ....I can tell it helps him. He sleeps better and deals with the infection better.

A little tyelnol never hurt anybody.

 

[scouthawkk]

My son would have 2 full blown ear infections and hadn't complained at all! I took him to the doctor, it was obvious he was sick, I just didn't know if it was sinus, sore throat, or what! The doctor said it was so bad, she was surprised he hadn't been screaming in pain. Now, if he ever complains about ear pain we get to the doctor that day. He has a history of ear infections and the doctor says one more, and he'll get tubes.

I do give him tylenol, even if he isn't complaining ....I can tell it helps him. He sleeps better and deals with the infection better.

A little tyelnol never hurt anybody.

Our DS (now 3) was the same way when he was younger. Very bad history of ear infections. It got to the point that once he got his tubes in, and wasn't hurting any more (we always gave him tylonol/motrin when we could tell he was in pain, and got the perscription antibiotic when needed) he didn't know how to act. For the first almost 2 years he was almost constantly sick with sinus/ear infections, that I think in his mind that is how he was supposed to feel, sick and in pain. I think he somehow built up some kind of tolerance for all the pain. I remember one time a couple of months after he got his tubes, he somehow managed to get yet another infection in both ears. He never complained of the pain or anything. Kept on playing and acting the same as usual. The only way we knew something was wrong was because he temp. shot up to over 104! The doc at the hospital we went to (we were on vacation, so didn't have access to his regular doc) said the ear drums were bulging so bad that he couldn't see the tubes. He didn't believe us that they were there, or thought they had fallen out or something. He, too was amazed that DS wasn't crying in pain! (Of course, by the time he finally saw him 5 hours after we got to the hospital, the motrin had kicked in so well that his temp. was back to normal, but the hospital visit is another adventure in itself. )