Seeking Advise on Ear Infections

When our 3rd child had tubes she did stop having so many ear infections. She had about 25 in the first 2 years. In other words, she was never better more than a few days at a time. After that she still got the upper respiratory infections. It was 2 years later that we decided to remove her tonsils. She never had tonsillitis. But her tonsils where huge and the doctor said they were blocking her airway, keeping her too tired to fight infections and germs could hide behind them. She was a different person after that.

Suzi

we had the same thing happen to us. what the ENT never told us was that the tubes don't stop the ear infections completely they just allow the fluid to drain from the inner ears. and any future ear infections would probably have less symptons, because the cause of the symptons (i.e.;fever, pain) is the trapped fluid. (i learned this info during the first infection after the surgery...our new pediatrician explained it to me)

we have had a few ear infections since the tubes were placed nearly two years ago, but nothing like we had before. and even though I misunderstood the reason for the tubes being placed I would still do it again, because it has helped.

Tubes do NOT drain any fluid. All they do is equalize pressure in the ear. I put off tubes for a long time because of this. We were was blessed that when we finally did put them in his ear infections were much better. This is often the case because the kids out grown the ear infections mostly and the tubes relieve pressure which helps.

Anyway...we actually had great luck with a chiropractor. I would find one that works with kids.

I've had 3 out of 4 kids receive tubes.
For us - it had to do with the way their Eustachian tubes were angled. two of the kids have had their adenoids removed. Our ENT explained that if the adenoid was infected then it would infect the ears.

There are a few things that you can do --
Don't give them benadryl unless you know there is no gunk already in their ears.
And run a cool mist humidifier.

Tubes do allow any drainage to ooze out..but I've only had one incident of drainage. If it's any consolation - Two of them have apparently outgrown their ear infections ... my nearly-two year old should be on her way soon. :-)

Good luck.

My son and daughter were allergic to cow's milk...it caused them to have earaches. We used a natural ear oil with mullien in it. It relieved their pain and the infection. We switched them to Goat milk and haven't had but a couple of infections in the last 5 years between 4 children.

Hope it helps.

God Bless!

My oldest son had tubes and both ears did great for a couple years. However, one tube did not fall out on it's own and became infected. He had a severe infection and then developed swimmer's ear on top of that. All the while, he had been taking antibiotics for 2wks. He eventually had to have out patient surgery to have it removed and has been great ever since. The tubes don't necessarily stop the infections. They are supposed to help allow fluid to drain properly. Since, every body is different, there could be something else going on. I know a lot of children that have had 3 or more sets of tubes. You may want to ask her ENT to check her ears again. She may just have to fight this until she gets older. I hope you figure out what to do. It is so sad when they are miserable and you can't help.

My younger son had the same issue. The doctors do say that the tubes don't necessarily prevent the ear infections but they do help in relieving the pain. If she keeps getting them she might have problems with her adenoids and tonsils. My son had to have both removed. His adenoids were blocking almsot ninety percent of his nasal passages which caused the infection to go straight into the ears. Doctors usually like to wait for about six months after the tubes are put in to see if it helps the problem. I would be persistant though. I had to go to another specialist for my son to get the operation to get his adenoids and tonsils removed. The first doctor wouldn't do it cause he said he was too young. My son was two at the time and they just put in a second set of tubes which did absolutely nothing for him. He has been such a different kid since the operation and sleeps better at night. He also has speech problems because the constant ear infections affected his hearing. He is doing so much better now all around. I would talk to the doctors about that and if you need to get more then one opinion.