Ear Infections

[kim]

I need to ask a question about ear infections. We've never had any in our house (I know!!) but Liam is pretty miserable right now and we're wondering if that's what it is. He started with a cold/cough/sinus thing earlier in the week and yesterday he just started moaning in pain because of his ear. At first we thought it was just sinus pain/pressure, but now he has a fever. Is there any way to know for sure if it is an ear infection? Also, what can we do to help? Our only option over the weekend is to take him to the hospital, which we don't want to do if we don't have to....

[Cheeseburger]

I second the garlic oil. Also if he's in pain I'd give him some children's tylenol to help him sleep at night and control the fever, but that's just me.


If the pain gets super bad I'd take him to the hospital because it could be an inner ear infection (which is more painful and dangerous than a middle ear infection). Also if he complains of being dizzy, falls down or vomits from dizzyness, I'd take him in because then a doctor really should look at it. Most ear infections don't get that bad though, and I'm sure you have plenty of good mommy instincts that will tell you what to do.

[melinda]

Yeah sound like an ear infection, I have never tried the garlic but I would lol inner ear infection is basically fluid behind the ear that been there long enough to cause an infection it won't hurt(as in hearing damage) unless its been there weeks and months(which you would know because painful) it's really painful, it can get so bad that it actually bursts which will cause almost instant relief, so if you see any ooze or snot like stuff coming from ear don't be alarmed because that's what happen(this is for severe ear infection ) but he will need to go see dr Monday to get drops while the ear heals on its own, this is from years of experience from me growing up and also ds2 which later got tubes since threaten his hearing and then ds4 but he never got tubes, so been there done that and seen lots of ENT specialist in my life time lol, hope he feels better soon, I know they hurt

Oh no water in ears, no cotton balls or plugs unless for short time for shower/bath because the cotton ball keeps it nice warm no airflow perfect to help bacteria grow, which doesn't help an infection

[kim]

Thanks for the heads up about the garlic oil. I may pick some up just to have on hand. That said, he seems to be improved this morning (despite being up multiple times last night.) His ears don't seem to be bothering him and his fever is down, so maybe it was just the cold? I don't know. In any case, he's in good spirits today and taking full advantage of our household habit of allowing extra tv time when someone is sick. lol!

[Margi]

I use essential oils (lavender + peppermint + purification) and completely avoided antibiotics with Sawyer's last bout of ear infection. It almost completely relieves the pain and makes SUCH a difference. I'm sorry but I'm just not a garlic fan (other than cooking!) and this actually smells good too