If you take a non interventionist approach to ear infections...

[madteaparty]

By that I mean treating with, say garlic oil vs antibiotics for what may or may not be a bacterial infection...how long does it take to clear up, in your experience?

No fever and at least one ear draining quite a bit, but the other still hurts and not really draining much...eating playing, fine other than the ear pain. Thank you

[Guest]

Ime fever will spike up high, that night will be the pits and by two days later all is well.

[Barb_]

Yeah generally a day or two. Longer than 48 hours and I would take the little one in. It's never gone that long though in my memory (which admittedly is hazier the longer I've been parenting lol)

[nd293]

I've never really treated ear pain in the kids - it usually goes in 2-3 days I guess. More than that, or getting worse and we would go to the doctor, and I don't think we ever have. Ds9 says slightly warmed olive oil really helps so that's what I tend to go with.

[madteaparty]

It has been longer than a few days of this cold that turned into a double ear infection but getting better everyday. Thanks all.

[Hoot]

In my experience, hand-warmed garlic oil used at the first sign of pain works within 24 hrs. If not better by that point, I would head to the doctor. I've actually used this on myself as well and it has worked to eradicate the pain quickly and efficiently.

[madteaparty]

In my experience, hand-warmed garlic oil used at the first sign of pain works within 24 hrs. If not better by that point, I would head to the doctor. I've actually used this on myself as well and it has worked to eradicate the pain quickly and efficiently.

Sorry, for future reference, how do you warm it? I use glass dropper bottles, I suppose I could hold it a few min?

[Carrie12345]

We use a specific UC center for ear issues, because their doctors do differentiate between the presence of fluid and ACTUAL infection, and will not prescribe abx unless they determine there is an ACTUAL infection to treat.  They've provided us with pain drops for home, have instructed the kids on techniques to get fluid moving, and we go in to check when there's a fever.

 

That said, I don't have any kids with chronic ear issues, just infrequent occurrences across multiple kids.

[Angie in VA]

Could you massage your child like

suggests?

 

I was an adult but I had great success with chiropractic care that made my ear drain. 

[Mama Geek]

Please be cautious, dh significant hearing loss due to ear infections that he had as a young kid.

[madteaparty]

Please be cautious, dh significant hearing loss due to ear infections that he had as a young kid.

As does mine, and he went to all the doctors and got all the tubes.

This particular child does not have chronic ear issues. My older did, until he outgrew them a few years ago.

[Shelly in IL]

Eliminate dairy while the person has the infection. It promotes mucus.

[Hoot]

Sorry, for future reference, how do you warm it? I use glass dropper bottles, I suppose I could hold it a few min?

We use garlic oil capsules. I just roll around in my hands for a bit until it is a bit warmer than room temp.

 

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[amo_mea_filiis.]

By that I mean treating with, say garlic oil vs antibiotics for what may or may not be a bacterial infection...how long does it take to clear up, in your experience?

No fever and at least one ear draining quite a bit, but the other still hurts and not really draining much...eating playing, fine other than the ear pain. Thank you

May not need antibiotics, but I'd at least go get checked out and see how big the hold in the eardrum is. Not everyone heals from a rupture. Some need a patch.

 

Since one did rupture, do not put anything in the ear.

[madteaparty]

We use garlic oil capsules. I just roll around in my hands for a bit until it is a bit warmer than room temp.

 

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Oh. I was making my own. Thanks

[zimom]

If the ear is draining, PLEASE do not put anything in the ear without a doctors ok.  Most ruptures close up without a problem in 2-4 weeks.   Just make sure you get the ear checked some time before your child goes swimming again, especially in a lake or ocean.   

 

audiologist in my prior life

[Halftime Hope]

OP, this was my Go To book, the very best source of great info on treating childhood ear infections.  It was recommended to me by the ENT doc who treated dd for her recurrent ear infections when she was a toddler. 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Childhood-Ear-Infections-Alternative-Treatments/dp/1556434421/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456932515&sr=1-3

 

This has a fantastic chapter on allergies, and why they are the most cause of ear infections in children, and how to tone down the body's immune response through good nutrition.   

 

Good luck on your journey.