Ear infection and hearing loss

[pirate99]

My 2 year old started going to daycare and has his first ear infection. After 7 days of antibiotics, he now has pus coming out of the ear. The pediatrician doesnt seem too worried. The nurse said, if these infections continue, we can put a tube for 6 to 12 months. And a little bit of hearing loss is expected.

Is there any way to avoid infections like these ?

Do they usually decrease when the child grows up and goes to school ?

Is it in general better for kids long term well being, not to send kids to day care if at all possible.

[RockRose]

Pirate - pus is coming out of his ear canal on day 7 of the antibiotic? ??  Does that mean his eardrum has burst?    I can't think of another way for pus to be coming out,  except in the case of a burst eardrum.  

I think it's better in the long term for kids to not go to daycare,  but I don't think it's because of contagious diseases - I just don't think kids get the loving care they need there.  I think mommy is best.

Best wishes for your little guy - hope his ear heals soon!

[Me2mommy2b]

Hi.  I am a speech therapist and I deal with many kids who've had those tubes put in their ears.  Some do very nicely on them and when taken out, the drum heals and there are no side effects.  The nurse was probably trying to tell you that there is a possibility of a hearing loss.  Here is the list of things that can be done to prevent ear infections from reappearing:

NINE STEPS TO PREVENTING EAR INFECTIONS
If your child has had several ear infections already, or you simple wish to lower her risk of getting them in the first place, here are some ways to prevent or at least lessen the frequency and severity of ear infections:

1. Breastfeeding. There is no doubt whatsoever in the medical literature that prolonged breastfeeding lowers your child's chances of getting ear infections.

2. Daycare setting. Continuous exposure to other children increases the risk that your child will catch more colds, and consequently more ear infections. Crowded daycare settings are a set up for germ sharing. If possible, switch your child to a small, home daycare setting. This will lower the risk.

3. Control allergies. If you think allergies are contributing to your child's runny nose and, consequently, ear infections,click on allergies to find out more about how to minimize your child's allergies.

4. Feed baby upright. Lying down while bottle-feeding can cause the milk to irritate the Eustachian tube which can contribute to ear infections.

5. Keep the nose clear. When a runny nose and cold start, do your best to keep the nose clear by using steam, saline nose drops, and suctioning. See colds for more info on this.

6. Cigarette smoke. There is strong evidence that smoking irritates baby's nasal passage, which leads to Eustachian tube dysfunction.

7. Echinacea - this is an herb which can safely and effectively boost the immune system. Click here for more information.

8. Chiropractic care - I firmly believe that chiropractic adjustments to the skull and neck can improve middle ear drainage and decrease ear infections.

9. Eat more raw fruits and vegetables - these can greatly boost your child's immune system and help fight off infections. If you have a picky eater, click here to read how Juice Plus can provide this nutrition for your child

[waitingwithhope]

That last poster was really thorough--good advice:) I can say, from experience, that I have had to have one child who has had tubes in his ears twice. He got continuous ear infections as a baby despite my best attempts to do everything right with him. My other children did not get any ear infections. This one son does suffer from very mild hearing loss but he is also quite bright and it hasn't really been an issue. I would always advocate for care at home over daycare but that's only because I think kids like to be with their parents or family over daycare. However, thus said, not everyone can avoid some form of daycare due to financial reasons.
I would ask the doc re:puss coming out of the ear, sounds like something might have popped inside, might have to be looked at again.

[waitingwithhope]

oh and my child never has had an ear infection again, could be age or could be that the tubes did their trick the second time.....

[shar7222]

I, for one, don't see a problem with daycare.  Not everyone can afford to be a stay-at-home mom nor does it seem like it's always the best route to go.  It's not about having expensive tastes, nowawdays it's about surviving.  I see a lot of children coming out of decent daycares being more social and having higher education skills.  I have a friend who gave the same "good moms need to stay home with their kids" spiel and now has a 12 year old who is being sent to military school because of behavior problems.  On the otherhand, I have a 4 year old niece who has gone to daycare since she was a baby and she is highly intelligent (currently learning sign language), is very outgoing and is able to share.  Next September she will be going to kindergarten where she will be gone all day at school "being raised by someone else besides mom".  Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  I just don't think people should make judgements.  
I'm sorry to go off tangient about the ear infection.  I know my nephew had the tubes put in his ears due to chronic ear infections when he was little and is fine today.  Maybe you should get a second opinion?

[pertykitty]

let me tell you, after one infection, tubes is not the answer yet. if pus is coming out he needs to be evaluated! my son had infection after infection and finally when 2 antibiotics didnt work and he still had infection, the tubes were placed. he was 1 and half. the tubes were to fall out in one year, they did not. they then fell out but were stuck in the canal. the dr didnt want to do anything and they stayed for some time. finally one tube came out and the dr saw a hole. the hole from the tube never healed. he had it repaired and the other was the same way they saw in surg. they used a "paper" to patch the holes. the right ear healed, the left did not. so in aug last year (ok he is 8 now!!) the dr used fascia from his scalp (its the connective tissue from the skin to the muscle.) to patch his ear. he is finally healed in his ears, his hearing has finally returned to normal, and hopefully we will not have any problems. the tubes did work, as far as infection goes, but the dr would not do it until he had to deal with many infections and meds finally not working. sorry so long. i suggest your child being seen today if there is pus coming out. usually after 3 days of meds he should be doing much better.