adult ear infection?

[gardenmom5]

2ds may have an ear infection.  not sure the last time he was at a dr, and that was a ND. (and she does mostly peds).

his temp is102 - which actually surprised me as that usually brings more lethargy.   he sleeps, eats, and gets on the computer.  even 1ds thought he was milking being sick to get out of stuff.  (he didn't want to do anything with 1ds and his gf last night.)

he had frequent ear infections as a small child (had tubes at 11 months - knew he had one because it would drain on his cheek.)  not any as a teen/adult to my knowledge.  (I wouldn't be surprised if he had sinus infections - but he's not a complainer.)

 

he has insurance, I can take him to urgent care . . but do I need to?   if things seem to get worse, yes I will take him in.

 

I'm giving him  OTC cold med and mucinex.  any other suggestions for possible ear infection?

 

eta: this kid runs high temps for minor stuff.  1dd is the same way  - they just run high temps.

Edited September 14, 2016 by gardenmom5

[zimom]

I'm in the camp of not treating common ear infections with antibiotics.  If he doesn't have any other symptoms other then the fever (and you said he typically runs fevers) and the ear pain, give him a couple of days.  OTC pain meds as needed,  OTC decongestants as tolerated, the mucinex is a good idea.  

 

I am/was an audiologist prior to my homeschooling life for a large ENT practice.  It is my belief that antibiotics are widely overprescribed, largely at parents insistence.  For my own kids, we waited ear infections out when possible.  For infections that ruptured the eardrum and drained as you described (down his cheek), then an antibiotic ear drop is a great idea.  

 

Just my 2 cents.  

[City Mouse]

Ear infections in adults are not very common, but it could be a sinus infection causing ear pain or something else.

If he does not feel like going to the doctor, a 102 temp in a adult does not alarm me.

Edited September 14, 2016 by City Mouse

[gardenmom5]

I'm in the camp of not treating common ear infections with antibiotics.  If he doesn't have any other symptoms other then the fever (and you said he typically runs fevers) and the ear pain, give him a couple of days.  OTC pain meds as needed,  OTC decongestants as tolerated, the mucinex is a good idea.  

 

I am/was an audiologist prior to my homeschooling life for a large ENT practice.  It is my belief that antibiotics are widely overprescribed, largely at parents insistence.  For my own kids, we waited ear infections out when possible.  For infections that ruptured the eardrum and drained as you described (down his cheek), then an antibiotic ear drop is a great idea.  

 

Just my 2 cents.  

 

 

he was draining down his cheek when he had tubes -so it wasn't a rupture.  he does have slight damage in one ear.  (one tube fell out early.)

I agree about the overuse of antibiotics, and I'm not gung-ho to rush out and get one. I'm also skeptical about how much good they do for an ear infection - they have to be able to reach the bacteria in order to kill it.  just looking for suggestions to encourage drainage.

but, I also don't want him rupturing an ear drum.. . .(i think he had shorter eustachian tubes or shallower angle than the other kids - none  of the others had his issues with infections.  still it's been 20 years.)

Edited September 14, 2016 by gardenmom5

[zimom]

he was draining down his cheek when he had tubes -so it wasn't a rupture.  he does have slight damage in one ear.  (one tube fell out early.)

I agree about the overuse of antibiotics, and I'm not gung-ho to rush out and get one. I'm also skeptical about how much good they do for an ear infection - they have to be able to reach the bacteria in order to kill it.  just looking for suggestions to encourage drainage.

but, I also don't want him rupturing an ear drum.. . .(i think he had shorter eustachian tubes or shallower angle than the other kids - none  of the others had his issues with infections.  still it's been 20 years.)

 

in a nutshell, I agree with what you have said :)

 

drainage with tubes:  yes, antibiotic drops.  Did not realize he had tubes when he was younger,  but drops with drainage in the case of tubes or in the case of a rupture.

 

He COULD rupture his ear drum but it's not likely.  Has it happened before with him?  I think you are on the right track now.  Unless he starts with more symptoms, pain lasts more then a few days, personally I would just stay the course.  

SaveSave

Edited September 14, 2016 by zimom

[Pippen]

Survivor of 8 eardrum ruptures as an adult here...Does he have ear or neck pain?

 

 

[Ausmumof3]

I had an adult one. My body was telling me to rest but I decided to stop being a wuss and get up to do stuff and then it went really bad and it ruptured overnight. It's not really the end of the world anyway it's like instant pain relief, but if it happens you do need antibiotic drops and have to be careful to keep it dry for a while.

 

So if he's wanting to rest I'd encourage that.

[lanabug]

I'd try to wait it out.  In the meantime, you can do a warm heating pad or compress on the ear to help alleviate any pain. There are OTC drops that will help too.

[Erica in OR]

Lymph drainage massage might help. I've used the techniques at 

to do neck/head/ear massage type techniques on myself when my ears just wouldn't drain/"pop" from either cold or allergy issues.

 

Erica in OR

Edited September 14, 2016 by Erica in OR

[Selkie]

I've had one ear infection as an adult.  It was super painful for a day or so, but I waited it out and it did clear up on its own.  A warm compress helps, as does putting drops of warm olive oil in the ear (a tip from my kids' doctor). 

 

Hope he feels better soon!

[QueenCat]

I get an ear infection every couple of years. For me, antibiotics are the only cure. It just gets worse if I try other things first.

[Guest]

I have tubes as an adult- I say get the antibiotics. It's extremely painful and if he has a tube left he needs to get it cleared. The antibiotic drops are the only thing I've found that do that.

 

I let the pressure build up in mine for a while before seeing the ENT and getting tubes last year. I now have hearing loss, so to me it's not worth waiting around to see if it resolves. Antibiotic drops aren't going to hurt a thing in his case.

[Storygirl]

Some ear infections need medical intervention. I had one my freshman year in college that was extremely painful.

 

I had another one about two years ago that turned into a real problem. I was sick all over -- respiratory infection, sinus infection, ear infection, and pink eye. I was miserable. I went to urgent care and got antibiotics but then had an allergic reaction to the drugs, just as the course of treatment was ending. I broke out in hives and my hand swelled up (strange reaction; it's called serum sickness). Not only that, but my ear was still sore. My doctor prescribed steroids, which were like a miracle and helped clear up both the hives and the ear. But I also had to see an audiologist to make sure I didn't have hearing damage.

 

I know ear infections do clear up by themselves often, but not always.

Edited September 15, 2016 by Storygirl

[maize]

I have a cousin who lost her sight in one eye because of an ear infection that somehow spread to the eye. She didn't want antibiotics and was trying to treat it with essential oils, ended up in the hospital on IV antibiotics.

 

I'd go to the Dr.

Edited September 15, 2016 by maize

[Catalytic]

Both DS6 and I got ear infections in the late winter/early spring...his I took him to the ER, was NOT pleased they wouldn't give me a script, even though I agree about antibiotic over-use.  ER doc said use Motrin, and the script wasn't good until 48 hours had passed.  Well, it worked.  We kept him dosed on Motrin, and it went away.  So when mine popped up, I decided to give the Motrin a try.  It worked, got rid of the pain, but I will say my ear was clogged for at least two months.

 

(I had terrible ear infections as a child, tubes, and continue to get them as an adult, usually once a year.  My eldest child is deaf in one ear and nearly deaf in the other from infections, had 5 sets of tubes, mastoidectomies, no longer has ossicles in the deaf ear because the implants didn't take, and has to get cholesteatomas removed every few years.  That's why I DO tend to want abx for ears.)

[gardenmom5]

his ear started hurting this morning.  he seems to have some improvement. he even asked for phad thai (the spice can do a bang-up job of clearing sinuses.  they were not generous with spices . . . . )

so, we're watching.

he doens't have tubes now, he had them infancy, and the last one was out by the time he was five.

 

I get an ear infection every couple of years. For me, antibiotics are the only cure. It just gets worse if I try other things first.

 

I'm like that with sinus infections.  I have to get on top of it at the first hint of an infection or it get's nasty.  my last dr didn't want to give me an antibiotic.  so a few months later, when I had a kidney infection and was on a high dose of a strong antibiotic (dd was excited she guessed the antibiotic I was on - and was really quiet at the dose - "that's really strong".)  My sinuses we draining like mad, it was clear it was quite infected.  might have been part of the reason I ended up with the kidney infection . . . .  I did do another two courses with a z-pak for the sinusitus. . . . . (I don't go to her anymore.)

I have a cousin who lost her sight in one eye because of an ear infection that somehow spread to the eye. She didn't want antibiotics and was trying to treat it with essential oils, ended up in the hospital on IV antibiotics.

I'd go to the Dr.

 

I had an infection like that.  . . . it started in my eye  (I *think* it was adnovirus).  it was nasty and super painful, like ground glass.  then, it went down the duct from my eye to my sinuses  (I could feel it shredding tissue as it went), and into my sinuses and into my middle ear.  (a year later I had an inner ear infection. yes - I blame this virus. do. not. recommend.  ever. ended up in the ER with dh and three hospital personal just to extricate me from the car because my face was planted in a bucket - they cleared a room stat.).  my gp was worthless and wouldn't even attempt to treat the sinusitus or otitis media.  my very good ophthal . . . was getting paranoid because I wasn't responding to treatment.  (he was starting to fear it was herpes in the eye).  we finally got it under control - but my health has never been the same.  it ravaged my immune system and it was very very slow getting healthier again. it took years. and I got worse before I got better.  I had a flu shot during this time - the first time ever (only once since). . . . I had the flu two months later.  almost as sick as I've ever been with flu. I'm convinced if I hadn't had the shot - I'd have had to be hospitalized because it would have been worse.

 

 

eta: he wrote biohazard on his phad thai container so it would be left alone.

Edited September 15, 2016 by gardenmom5