Infantreflux.org | We’re in an ear infection nightmare!

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July 7, 2006 at 2:00 pm #11150

Anonymous
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As some of you know, Ian’s had back to back viruses beginning in early June. Just when he started to get better, he developed an ear infection as a result of them. After a failed course of amoxocillin (while on it, his second ear started to fill and get irritated-on verge of another infection), we were switched to augmentum (eek-horrible on my bubby’s weak digestive tract-he’s refluxing up a storm). This seemed to do the trick over the weekend-we added maalox and probiotics to help and he was more himself. Then Tuesday and all h#@&ll breaks loose. Waking up often at night, low grade fever of 100, and extremely irritible. Some pulling of the ears. We can’t see our pediatrician until Monday.

My question is this-has anyone had a child be resistant to both these drugs? Or are the probiotics getting in the way of them working? Any homeopathic tips to make him more comfortable? It is possible it’s not his ears and yet again ANOTHER virus, but that seems unlikely..however, he is moving and grabbing more now..Has anyone heard of an ear infection lasting 3 weeks? Poor guy hasn’t been himself in over a month. And way overtired making everything worse.

And naturally, this is totally screwing up solids and advancing with food trials. We haven’t been able to test anything, except chicken for the last 2 days(only mixed with sweet potato). Not sure if he’s reacting to it or not but it’s been so long and really wanted to increase diversity so he would not get so bored.

SIGH. Thanks.

July 7, 2006 at 2:05 pm #11151

Anonymous
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Tracy,

Have you checked his Prevacid dosage with the marci-kids calculator lately? As you probably know, these ear infections are often the result of extraesophageal reflux (EER) and can thus be helped by a higher dose of PPI.

July 7, 2006 at 2:22 pm #11152

hellbennt
Keymaster

yeah. more reflux meds…

and SALINE SALINE SALINE works wonders for Jonah

who, by the way, is on his 2nd ear infection in 2 months- they went away for a LONG time, yay! but now it seems like they’re back- i’ve even been thinking of blaming reflux, but he’d tell me if something hurt/burned him- he’s VERY verbal– so anyway, now that he’s 3 & toilet trained there are no more diaper changes (well for bed and nap- that’s 2) it’s hard to remember to squirt him w/ saline- plus, now that he’s talking like a little person, it’s sooo hard to explain it to him/convince him/wrangle him…we used to just squirt him religiously w/ every diaper change…regular store-brand adult nasal spray (same exact ingredient as Little Noses, but cheaper!)

July 7, 2006 at 2:46 pm #11153

Anonymous
Inactive

Tracy,

Sounds quite familiar to our story with Carter – which in his case ended in tubes. Our chiropractor had us using Heel’s Pure Ear drops – and that really seemed to provide him some relief from the pain (but didn’t help clear up the infections quicker in his case). If you’re willing to give homeopathic meds a shot, I recommend trying to find them.

July 7, 2006 at 3:29 pm #11156

Anonymous
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Alexandra has had an ear infection for almost 2 weeks. She had a checkup yesterday and the doctor said that there is no improvement, and they may actually be getting worse. Since she has had so much trouble gaining weight, he was afraid to prescribe Augmentin, so we just started another round of Amox. I would be more worried about it, but she has also had a bad cold for the last 2 1/2 weeks, so the ped said that her ear infection is probably related to that. Sorry, I know that this doesn’t help much. I don’t think that the probiotics interfere with the antibiotics, so I doubt that they are the issue. We’re actually getting ready to try them because the antibiotics are making it impossible for Alex to get rid of her thrush.

July 7, 2006 at 3:35 pm #11157

Anonymous
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I agree with both Joel and Laura. Knock on a big old piece of wood but Abby hasn’t had any ear infections yet. Her big sister had had 5 of them by now. Having the reflux properly controlled makes a huge difference in all areas of their little lives. The saline drops really help out too. I still use them when Kayla starts to get a cold and bam, the cold disappears. I hate snot so thank goodness it works so well!! Hope you can get to the bottom of it and get him feeling better soon!!

Robin

July 7, 2006 at 3:37 pm #11158

Anonymous
Inactive

Thanks everyone.

We actually have his meds up to 30 a day now-2 doses because it’s solutabs. I’m positive the infection started from a bad virus-he was coughing sneezing and dripping like crazy. Are you guys saying it’s not getting better because he’s refluxing on top of it, aggravating ears? Want to make sure I understand. Also, is it because Augmentum is hurting tummy making more reflux?? Would figure the cure would add to the problem!

Kim-did your doctor know Augmentum hurts tummy and causes our babies to slow eating? Especially solids..?

Thanks again.

July 7, 2006 at 3:40 pm #11159

Anonymous
Inactive

One more thing-his augmentum ends on Sat and we don’t see ped until Monday. Is it possible he’ll feel better off the antibiotic??

July 7, 2006 at 4:44 pm #11166

Anonymous
Inactive

Sorry I don’t have any advice. I just wanted to say that I’m sorry Ian is still sick. Poor little guy. I hope he does feel better after the augmentum is done.

July 7, 2006 at 5:04 pm #11169

Anonymous
Inactive

Tracy, yes, our doctor said that he wanted to avoid Augmentin if at all possible because it can really upset their tummies and interfere with eating. Alex doesn’t seem to have reflux issues yet, but she had no interest in eating for the first 3 weeks of her life (she would rather sleep). So, now that she finally wants to eat, he doesn’t want to do anything to mess with it.

It is possible that reflux is making his ears worse, but it’s also very possible that it’s just a stubborn ear infection and that is making his reflux worse. It’s so hard to tell. So, if the augmentin is hurting his tummy, he may still be cranky and hard to deal with after you stop (if his ears still hurt), but he might actually start eating better.

I can definitely sympathize with you. Both girls have ear infections right now (courtesy of the cold that Kaelyn brought home her last week in daycare). Fortunately, Alexandra doesn’t seem bothered by hers, but Kaelyn has been a cranky mess!

July 7, 2006 at 10:42 pm #11187

Anonymous
Inactive

No advice – ear infection novice here but i hope Ian feels better soon. Are they considering tubes?

July 8, 2006 at 6:59 am #11191

Anonymous
Inactive

Thanks so much for the support everyone. I really mean it.

Only woke up once last night (but for for over an hour-lol). We stop augmentum today so we’ll see how tomorrow is I guess. He actually ended up eating a ton by the end of the day yesterday-had more lunch/dinner. 30oz of formula and 12oz of food (no kidding!). I’m sure he’s making up for lost time and I pray this means he’s feeling a little better tummy wise but ooooh baby has he been on edge! Screams in his stroller at a moment’s notice and so loud, I’m getting major eyes off the street. Oh well-I live in nyc and can’t carry him, the stroller, and a diaper bag so he’ll have to hang in there. I do feel so bad for him though.

Karen-yes, we will have to think about tubes. My husband and his sister both had them and constant ear infections as a kid. They also said it tends to follow whichever parent his head resembles-and he’s the spitting image these days of dh. Great! Another proceedure! We’re waiting to decide though. We’ll see how he does next cold. Count your lucky stars cutie Marisa hasn’t had them-they’re the worst for babies with eating issues.

July 8, 2006 at 8:17 am #11193

Anonymous
Inactive

That’s interesting about the following head thing. Marisa totally has
DH’s head and he had tons of throat infections as a baby and had to
have his tonsils out young…

Eating issues – we have interesting ones here. M is happier than ever
and sleeping great but it’s a battle to get even 12 ounces/formula in
her a day (supplemented with another 3-4 ounces yogurt and/or cheese).
She just hates to drink any formula – can’t wait to try whole milk. She
eats quite well in terms of solids – other than breakfast anyway

Does it help if his stroller is more upright? We have to have Marisa’s
stroller on the most upright setting and then she still pulls herself
up to sit totally upright/straight to hold onto the bar. She looks like
she’s driving a car or something LOL.

Hope he feels better soon – keep us posted.

July 8, 2006 at 3:10 pm #11207

Anonymous
Inactive

I’ve never heard the head thing. That’s really interesting. I had lots of problems with my ears and tonsils as a child, and Kaelyn looks exactly like I did.

July 10, 2006 at 12:39 pm #11249

Anonymous
Inactive

Tracy,

In regard to the PPI dosing, Dr Phillips says that the proper frequency (number of times given per day) is as important as the proper dose, and he and Dr Bothwell recommend TID (three times daily) dosing until at least 2 years of age. So increasing it to 3 doses might make a significant difference. Whatever the case, if he is still experiencing acid reflux then either the form or the dose of PPI is not right (or both), and having acid washing up into the inner ear will definitely cause problems and aggravate any conditions already present.
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