When your child has an ear infection do you give them an antibiotic? I always have and they have cleared up without a problem.
New "studies" suggest that antibiotics are used too often. And, of course they should only be used with a bacterial infection.
When do you give your child an antibiotic?

By Jewlz on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 06:38 pm:

i had one dr that said if u didnt take the meds taht it would usually clear up on its own ...but would get a bit more painful before it did ... my kids were 8 and three changed drs ... tho the dr confirmed this ... said that the ear drum would have to explode to do that and usually leaves scare tissue ... i always gave antibiotics and a pill that would dry the fluid up ... kids are older now ...cant remember what the name of the meds are ...ohh and the blowin smoke in the ear ...dont work ... and the heat sweet oil or olive oil up .. is temp ... just our experience ..

By Babysitbarb on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 07:57 pm:

I know a lot of different kids whom have been on a couple different Antibitics this winter for ear infections and they just can't seem to get completely rid of them. I don't know if the antibitics aren't as strong as they use to be or if kids seem to just be having more problems. Have any of you ever heard that Milk can cause a reaccuring ear infection. Supposedly there is something in it to keep it from going bad and that's what is supposedly causing little ones to have so many infections. I'v heard that a little one who lays down and sucks a bottle or sucks the pacifier can get ear infections often and a couple of the little ones I know does that.

By Momto2 on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 11:05 pm:

There isto many antibitics for ear infections and other things to name them all,but the most popular one around Tenn. is Augmentin and Amoicillin.I learned this at work.I work as a pharmacy tech at my father-in-laws pharmacy. The milk thing,I dont know for sure but my son drinks milk like crazy ever since he was old enough for it,and he has not had any ear infaction.This is only what I think.

By Melanie on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 09:49 am:

Not always. If I know one is beginning I use a home remedy which I have had good luck with. Put olive oil in a medicine dropper and warm it in your hand. Put that in the ear. Give Tylenol for the pain and put a warm towel/warm heating pad/hot water bottle (not hot!) by the ear. It usually clears up just as fast as when on antibiotics.

However, if it is a full blown ear infection, I have no problem giving my child antibiotics. Last week my son had a double ear infection, and he was definitely on antibiotics for it!

By Beth on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 02:25 pm:

My kids have been lucky with not having to many ear infections. But I had chronic ear infections in high school. I believe it always took an anitbotic to clear it up. I also used a heating pad for the pain. But of course I was old enough to monitor not burning myself. I had my eardrum rupture once and that is very painful. I definately think antibiotics are the way to go.