Infant Ear Infections

Hi J.,

Don't feel bad at all. My daughter at 13 months developed an ear infection THAT RUPTURED and I never knew it! She was cutting a molar at the time... same thing. All the symptoms were plausible teething... AND when I would treat the teething (oragel and such) the fussing would stop. And it wasn't even BAD fussing.

Looking back, the ONLY thing I didn't catch was when I would put her down to bed at night and rock her... she had a very difficult time getting comfortable in my arms. Normally, that is not the case. Looking back I now know that was her ear being very uncomfortable.

The nurse at our peds office told me they don't always run a temp with ear infections. The dr told me that quite honestly, an ear infection is really no big deal unless they continue to happen over and over. She wasn't even concerned it ruptured. She said 80% of the time a ruptured infection heals perfectly fine all on it's own, my daughters did. She just had a check up for 15 months and her ears are perfect. In addition, once it ruptures, there is no need for antibiotics. Our peds dr said the bacteria is draining out and there is no need for pain meds because the pain is gone. So, we didn't do any medications. Which is fine with me. I don't want to give antibiotics unless absolutely necessary!

Anyway, my point is... don't worry about it.

When your daughter teeths, if she is prone to runny noses and such, like mine is, there are some things you can do to promote drainage. Keep her nose clear with saline drops and an aspirator. Also, tug on the top of her ear... up and out. This will help open the eustachian tube and promote drainage. In addition, you can take your finger and run it down her neck from the bottom of her ear to her throat. This too will promote drainage.

Their eustachian tubes at this young age are not on an incline like ours. THey are straight across. So, you have to promote drainage. When their sinuses are clogged it can easily clog their ear tubes. You hear people say 'kids grow out of ear infections'. That is really true... as they grow older their ears move up and then they get the incline to the eustachian tube and voila ... drainage happens more naturally and no more ear infections.

I have not heard of any 'detection' device for ear infections. Just watch for ANY change in behavior. If she doesn't want to lay down, can't get comfortable when you lay her in your arms. tugs on her ear, spikes a fever, becomes overly fussy... anything.

Good luck. Hang in there.

Hi J.,
First off, DON'T feel bad about this. I try to write to every person who has concerns about ear infections, but there are just so many! I am an audiologist (hearing, ears, just about everything related...) and I have a toddler at home. There have been MANY times that she has had an ear infection and I didn't know...yikes. I always felt bad, especially since this is my profession and I SHOULD know. A few things. If the ear infection isn't bothering your child (they sleep through the night, they aren't running a fever, etc.) I wouldn't even worry about it. In Europe, most physicians don't even give antibiotics for ear infections! We have waited many of the infections out on my little one and sometimes they clear up on their own. If your kiddo is super fussy, won't sleep at night (I've found this is the big one for most parents, if their is drainage, or they are sticking their finger in their ear (some kids do this, some don't at all), make sure you get them in right away. Otherwise, NOT getting antibiotics is OKAY.
If you ever have questions, feel free to shoot me a message!
Hang in there, you're doing fine!

my daughter has had ear infections when i didn't know. she never pulled on her ear or was extra cranky, i always associated her crankyness to her teeth that where comming in. i wouldn't worry that you don't take her in for everything kids these days are over medicated as it is and if they are constantly on antibotics they will soon become immune to them

This is not an answer to your question but only a suggestion. My g-children were always getting ear infections too and finally we asked the dr. if they could be allergies instead. turned out they were treated for the wrong thing. Ear infection meds will not take care of an allergy.

Your daughter probably had a very mild ear infection. My son had one and we knew something was wrong....but it was a full blown ear infection. Just keep your eyes and ears open - that's all you can do. I haven't tried any machines, but I started taking my son to a chiropractor and my son hasn't had any more ear infections since then. Just do what feels right.

The same exact thing happened to me. just last week. I felt like such a dumb frazzled mom going in with 3 kids the same age as yours, and being totally clueless about the ear infection - double. But he was so happy and also teething, that the Dr. was also shocked. So you are not alone

It may be just as well to not know! Aside from doing all you can to make him comfortable, there is not much to treat an ear infection. There is evidence that antibiotics do not lessen the duration significantly, and we all know that giving unnecessary antibiotics is not good for our kiddos, or for the development of those superbugs out there anyway.
I have four children and the ONLY time any of them had an ear infection I missed it and chalked up his fussiness to pink eye (which he also had!).
Don't feel guilty, and unless he really gets them repeatedly, letting it run its course may just be the best thing.

J., At most pharmacies they have an ear bear or ear scope, they are like the ones at your Dr.s office. It has pictures of a good ear drum and an infected one. Not expensive and could save your childs ears. Good luck K.