ear troubles

DS is 10 months. about 2 months ago, he had back ot back double ear infections- first was on amoxicillin, then a week later eyes started leaking goop, back to ped, this time on omnicef.
about 10 days, he started acting cranky, waking at night. he has no teeth, i thought it was teething. LAst tuesday, we go to ped for a well visit- another ear infection. DS had no fever, was not incredibly cranky, so we agreed to wait on antibiotics for a week, and see what happens. over hteweekend, he got incredibly fussy, pulling ears, hollering in crib.still no fever, but hes refusing to nurse. take him back to ped today, he now has pus in BOTH ears.
Ped now put him on augmentin. I feel AWFUL for not doing antibiotics last week, but i thought we could wait with no fever

some questions
1. is augmentin REALLY rough on db?
2. this is secodn ear infection that his only sign has been poor sleeping- is this common? what do i do, take to ped whenever he starts waking at night?
3. ped said his ears are not red- exact words were they dont look like "a hot ear". you think this is going to drain out, or we are going to end up by an ENT? basically, its jsut standing pus

Re: ear troubles

I would go to the ENT. They may suggest you put tubes in.

Re: ear troubles

Posted by KerriSteve

I would go to the ENT. They may suggest you put tubes in.

Re: ear troubles

I am no Dr, but here are my opinions based on my own personal experience.

DS (23 months) has only had 1 ear infection in his life. I though he had his first about 3 months ago. Only sign was he stuck his finger in his ear, then cried, stuck his finger in his ear, then cried one night at dinner. He had a cold (no fever), thought maybe it moved into his ear.

Ped said no ear infection. Just bad pressure from the fluids in his head from the cold. She said a sure fire sign of an ear infection is when they go to sleep and are restless, crying, etc. Because when they lay down all the pressure in the ears is intensified when laying flat. She said if that happens at night you can give benadryl to take the edge off and bring him in for a sick visit and check up the following day.

About 3 weeks later he was bugging out when he went down for the night. So out of character for DS. Always goes right to sleep and goes the whole night without a peep. All night I hear him whining and 's when the moaning and groaning. The day before he had developed another little drippy cold (no fever). The next day brought him back to the ped for sick visit.

She checked. Said in just 1 ear it was a touch red. No puss. Probably just the start of an ear infection. She said she wasn't going to prescribe antibiotics because 85% of ear infections resolve themselves. And sure enough within 2 days he was fine.

So.....don't be too hard on yourself. You had no idea the ear infection wouldn't clear up on its own. However, definitely take the whining at bed time as a warning sign.

And lastly, I have no idea about the Augmentin...DS has never been on an antibiotic.