Tiramisu Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Dd hasn't been able to hear well for six days. This was preceeded by a virus with a lot of congestion and an ear infection. The nurse at the peds office suggested an antihistimine so we started Zyrtec. I don't think that will do it, since there's no new congestion. I think it's just fluid from the virus and subsequent infection just sitting in the canals. How long is is safe to wait to see a doctor about the congested ears and poor hearing? We already saw the pediatrician over a week ago when dd was in the middle of the illness and she'll finish up the antibiotics tomorrow. I hate the idea of having to do another round of antibiotics if the infection comes back with the fluid sitting in there. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRG Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 I would have already gone back--that sounds miserable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Have you tried a decongestant like Sudafed? Zyrtec won't really help w/ that. I might also give her some Mucinex to help dry her out. If that doesn't work, then I might go back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 I would also have gone back. Fluid and messed up hearing absolutely stinks! I went through this in October and November and it is coming back. The fluid can rupture the ear drum and it hurts. Now you've major ear pain, a messed up drum, and bad hearing. I was 2 rounds of major antibiotics. With the second round, by day 2, i felt it working. In other words, do not wait any longer. Get to the dr and get it treated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 I'm with everyone else who would have already gone back. My friend had an ear infection, and the doctor prescribed antibiotics, so she figured she'd be fine. She wasn't. After 2 weeks on different medications, she went to an ENT doctor, and he finally hit upon the right combination of antibiotics for her. But wow, she was miserable in the meantime. I can't help but wonder if there's something going around that's hard to shake, because my friend hadn't had an ear infection since she was a kid, and this thing hit her like a ton of bricks . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted December 10, 2012 Author Share Posted December 10, 2012 I'm with everyone else who would have already gone back. My friend had an ear infection, and the doctor prescribed antibiotics, so she figured she'd be fine. She wasn't. After 2 weeks on different medications, she went to an ENT doctor, and he finally hit upon the right combination of antibiotics for her. But wow, she was miserable in the meantime. I can't help but wonder if there's something going around that's hard to shake, because my friend hadn't had an ear infection since she was a kid, and this thing hit her like a ton of bricks . Thankfully, she definitely does not have an active infection, but I'm so afraid it will get re-infected if it just sits, and need more antibiotics, and then possibly get a complication from the antibiotics. (Just my own trauma popping up with that part.) When dd was one, she got an ear infection and the overseas ENT wanted to watch it for two weeks to see if the fluid drain naturally, and it did. That's why I haven't rushed back in yet. But, it is over a week of fluid, and nearly a week of poor hearing...and little improvement if any. I may call in and see when my favorite ped is in this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 You need to go back. I had this happen to me back in Feb/March. I didn't have an infection (surprisingly), but I had fluid in my ears and blisters, for Pete's sake!! I will never mess with ear troubles again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 My issue would be wondering what they could possibly do for her. Unless they have medications they didn't have when my son was little that drain/dry up fluid what would they do? Short of ear tubes (not warranted of course here) how would they drain fluid? That said, I agree with you that it's concerning. That fluid could indeed get reinfected or, more likely perhaps, builid up biofilms to house bacteria that antibiotics in the future won't be able to reach. A good cranial sacral therapist (or a chiropractor familiar with this area) might be able to teach you massage to possibly help drain the ears. I found that shows a method. It's worth trying. I've heard people say dairy can promote fluid. I don't know that it made any difference here but possibly it does for some. edited to add: It's worth trying what others have mentioned in the thread for over the counter meds. I read other replies and I'm not sure what to think about the mentions of a 2nd round of antibiotics to clear fluid. It was not my understanding that antibiotics clear fluid but rather infection. Given it's not infected I don't know what an antibiotic would do. My son had major ear problems. He did eventually end up with tubes. But I was never led to expect from pediatricians or ENT, nor did I experience, antibiotics helping with residual fluid from an infection. http://www.cdc.gov/g...-infection.html When you or your child has a cold, the middle ear can get filled with fluid just as the nose does - it just doesn't run out as easily from the middle ear. Sometimes the fluid becomes infected, leading to AOM (Acute Otitus Media/ear infection). After an episode of AOM has been treated with antibiotics or has resolved on its own, fluid may remain in the middle ear and may take a month or longer to go away. Otitis media with effusion... is more common than AOM, and may be caused by viral upper respiratory infections, allergies, or exposure to irritants (such as cigarette smoke). The build up of fluid in the middle ear does not usually cause pain and almost always goes away on its own. OME will not usually benefit from antibiotic treatment. She's not infected now. Therefore, she doesn't need an antibiotic I don't think. It's absolutely typical for fluid to hang around for quite a while after an infection. That doesn't mean they can do anything for it antibiotic wise. Now, there may be a doctor who would prescribe a 2nd round of antibiotics because she still has (uninfected) fluid. That, to me, would just make resistant bacteria possibly that much more likely though. I'd pursue other options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted December 11, 2012 Author Share Posted December 11, 2012 You need to go back. I had this happen to me back in Feb/March. I didn't have an infection (surprisingly), but I had fluid in my ears and blisters, for Pete's sake!! I will never mess with ear troubles again! What did they do? That sounds awful. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted December 11, 2012 Author Share Posted December 11, 2012 My issue would be wondering what they could possibly do for her. Unless they have medications they didn't have when my son was little that drain/dry up fluid what would they do? Short of ear tubes (not warranted of course here) how would they drain fluid? That said, I agree with you that it's concerning. That fluid could indeed get reinfected or, more likely perhaps, builid up biofilms to house bacteria that antibiotics in the future won't be able to reach. A good cranial sacral therapist (or a chiropractor familiar with this area) might be able to teach you massage to possibly help drain the ears. I found that shows a method. It's worth trying. I've heard people say dairy can promote fluid. I don't know that it made any difference here but possibly it does for some. edited to add: It's worth trying what others have mentioned in the thread for over the counter meds. I read other replies and I'm not sure what to think about the mentions of a 2nd round of antibiotics to clear fluid. It was not my understanding that antibiotics clear fluid but rather infection. Given it's not infected I don't know what an antibiotic would do. My son had major ear problems. He did eventually end up with tubes. But I was never led to expect from pediatricians or ENT, nor did I experience, antibiotics helping with residual fluid from an infection. http://www.cdc.gov/g...-infection.html She's not infected now. Therefore, she doesn't need an antibiotic I don't think. It's absolutely typical for fluid to hang around for quite a while after an infection. That doesn't mean they can do anything for it antibiotic wise. Now, there may be a doctor who would prescribe a 2nd round of antibiotics because she still has (uninfected) fluid. That, to me, would just make resistant bacteria possibly that much more likely though. I'd pursue other options. I do agree and I don't think they can do much if it's just fluid in there, and I don't expect they would start another course of antibiotics, unless, of course, there were another infection. Another reason why I'm dragging my feet. In Japan, the ENT said he would recommend draining the fluid with a needle through the ear drum if it didn't clear up in two weeks because it was dangerous otherwise. Dangerous in what way, I don't know. I have never heard of that happening in the US, though the Japanese ENT was trained at Duke. In Germany, dh used a special lamp at home for ear infections. I wish I had something like that to try. I tried to get dd to hold a warm rice bag to her ear but she didn't like the feeling. I'm going to check out the video and see what I can do to help. From the research I've done on my own nasal decongestant sprays are supposed to be the best treatment, but I'm really clueless about using them. Yes, it should be a no-brainer, just stick in up your nose and squirt, but I've never used a lot of meds, even OTC ones, with my kids and I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing and using the right product. Oral decongestants like sudafed and antihisitimines are also frequently recommended, but from what I've been able to gather, research has not shown that they are effective. I did make an appointment with my favorite doc for late tomorrow. I can always cancel if I see improvement during the day. At least, she can take a peek and tell me if everything looks like it should. If I could relive my life as a mommy, I would invest in one of those things the docs use to look in ears. Just think about the money I could have saved with one of those! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staceyshoe Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 My son had poor hearing for a couple of months due to allergies causing fluid in his ears. (Infections off and on in there too from the fluid just sitting in a nice warm environment for bacteria.) He was already taking 2 different allergy meds. The pediatrician said that he couldn't do anything except refer to an ENT for tubes, but that it wasn't recommended since ds's allergies are only in the springtime and expected to resolve on their own (which they did after the season was finished). It may drain given time. It may become an ear infection. If it is looking like a long-term issue, then a visit with an ENT might help. I doubt the pediatrician can do anything about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimerinkydo Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Definately go ahead try the Sudafed for a couple of days. If it doesn't help then go see the doctor. I have had a few ENT doctors just tell me to take Sudafed when I've had stuffy eustation tubes. I'm prone to ear troubles so I take sudafed whenever I have a head cold to prevent ear infections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share Posted December 12, 2012 Definately go ahead try the Sudafed for a couple of days. If it doesn't help then go see the doctor. I have had a few ENT doctors just tell me to take Sudafed when I've had stuffy eustation tubes. I'm prone to ear troubles so I take sudafed whenever I have a head cold to prevent ear infections. Thank you for this tip. Dd finally did seem to be hearing better this afternoon so I cancelled the appointment, knowing that my favorite doctor is in tomorrow morning if things seem worse again then. I did do the lymph draining massage last night. Who knows? Maybe it did help get things moving today. I've also been giving her tea with honey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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