son gets ear infection ever time he is sick

my 1.5 year old son has a cold right now and I know it's just a matter
of time before he starts favoring his ear. He's had about 4 ear
infections in his short life. Is there anything I can do to help
prevent yet another ear infection I'm really not happy about him going
on antibiotics for the 5th time.

Marie...

Well for one thing, they do NOT need antibiotics every time they get an
infection. You can instead put warm cloths on his ear to relieve the
pressure and pain, and get him in some steam to help him breathe. Many
pediatricians will prescribe antibiotics every time for the parent's sake
but it's not necessary or healthy.
Marie

JennP....

Four ear infections in 1.5 years isn't all that many. My dd had over a dozen
by the time she finally had tubes at 16 months. Has it been four infections
in the recent months? If so, it could be the same fluid not draining and
keeping the infection going.

Welches...

Yes agreed. #1 had 4 ear infections by the time she was 1.5yo. Also they
were all in the space of about 6 weeks-and yes, they had cleared up between
whiles. She's now 6yo and hasn't had more than one (I can't remember if
she's had any) since.
Debbie

There are so many opinions on ear infections. The best thing to do is to
talk to your pediatrician.

toypup...

DS had lots of ear infections. The criteria his ped used was 3 infections
in six months, if I remember correctly, then it was off to get tubes. The
tubes weren't supposed to prevent infections, just to help his hearing
(since 1yo need to hear in order to learn to process speech). In spite of
being repeatedly told that, he did stop having ear infections right after
surgery and his speech improved. DS got his second set of tubes plus his
adenoids out when he was 4yo.

We just got DS's hearing screened today with his physical and the doctor
says he has scarring in his ears from the ear infections and he has hearing
loss in the lower ranges. Kids get ear infections so often, I think people
tend to get very cavalier about them, but they can cause damage.

DD had tubes but still had ear infections, but at least we could tell when
she had infections after her tubes were in.

Cathy Weeks...

Talk to your doctor about your concerns. However, my feeling is that 4
in 18 months just isn't that many. My little brother had that many in
a six month period (or even more). He had 3 sets of tubes and
permanant scarring, so that may help put things in perspective. Doctors
are also changing how they treat ear infections, and only prescribing
antibiotics for serious infections, and letting mild ones heal on their
own.

Cathy Weeks