[neverdem]

Otitis Media in Early Childhood in Relation to Children’s School-Age Language and Academic Skills

Question and Answers on Acute Otitis Media

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[RunningWolf]

One of my most terrify epxerinces as a toddler was getting a ear infection suctioned out of my ears. I still can remember it.

Later there was a period from 1997 to 2000 that I got in the habit of using q-tips to clean out my ears.

My ears of course produced more and more wax. In my experience you only feel the q-tip on the side of the canal but not when it touches the ear drum.

Eventually I had several ear infections requiring vacuuming out the infection and subsequent wide spectrum anti-biotic to counter.

There were also several other various symptoms which the doctors could not quite identify, of those I attacked with on my own several dietary approaches (heavy duty vinegar diets, cayenne-garlic diets etc)

W.

[LukeL]

Well I went to the doctor for a regualr checkup and in his infinite wisdom decided to clean out my ears. Instead of using warm water and peroxide he used a plastic hook and managed to cut my ear canal. About 3 days later I got my very first ear infection, (I was 15) which was one of the most painful things I have been through. (including a broken femur and kindey stone) Of course another doctor at the same clinic said there was no proof the two incidents were related.

But I have no idea how a 2 or 3 year old can put up with such pain.

[Straight Vermonter]

I still have speech difficulties as a result of long term ear infections and fluid retention. I wish I had been able to have the tubes.

[LadyDoc]

Actually, things have changed.

Twenty years ago, the only treatment was antihistamines, which made a lot of kids sleepy and some very hyperactive/screaming reaction (and rarely seizures).
We had to give antibiotics for ten to fourteen days, and most moms missed doses or stopped them early...

Moms and dads smoked indoors, so more stuffy noses.
And a lot of the infections were caused by "H FLU" or pneumococcus, both of which can lead to meningitis (infection of the brain which can be fatal)

Now, we have clariten, which doesn't make the kids hyper/sleepy.
Antibiotics cost more, but usually you can give a couple days of zithromax and that's it.
Most moms and dads know not to smoke indoors.
And with the pneumonia and hFlu vaccines, we see less severe infections of the ears.\

So we probably don't need as many tubes, and we probably don't need to treat all cases with antibiotics to prevent meningitis and mastoiditis complications

[Dosa26]

My mother told me that as a baby/young child I was constantly getting ear infections. After I got the tubes I never had another one. Seems they worked great for me.

[PGalt]

Very interesting. Thanks to all contributors.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Interesting tidbit, though a little late to benefit most here. Well, for those of you that are going to have children it is good info.

Breast fed babies have significantly fewer ear infections than formula feed babies. That was one (of many) reasons my wife nursed our daughter. Not only did she never have an ear infection, she only needed antibiotics once or twice in her entire life.

Dairy products are a factor in ear and sinus problems in babies and children. My daughter was very sensitive to dairy so she had very little as a kid. That helped too I believe.

[wintertime]

It appears that many of you are confusing middle ear infections with outer canal infections.

The outer chamber is reachable by Q-tips.

The middle ear infection occurs behind the ear drum in the middle chamber where the three bones (stamen, stapes, and anvil) ( sorry sp.) lay that conduct the sound to the inner chamber (the choclea). The Eustachian tube enters the middle ear and connects the middle chamber to the throat. When we swallow we automatically adjust the pressure in the middle ear to match the pressure of the atmosphere. If an infection occurs here, the ear drums can rupture.

I have had many, many outer ear infections. They are incredibly painful, more than anything I have ever suffered. I learn that by washing the ear with a mild solution of vinegar that I can prevent outer ear infections and have only one since my 20s. ( The Listerine ideas sounds good to me and would likely work)

I have had one bout of middle ear infection. Both ears ruptured and it too was very unpleasant.

[dhuffman@awod.com]

Stuff, acts, substances and events with no side effects likely have no effects at all.

[Republican Red]

My daughter went through at least five years of constant ear infections. Her doctor refused the tubes and said she'd grow out of it. She did.

A few years later her younger brother started having bad ear infections and another doctor recommended tubes. We put the tubes in and it was the last ear infection he ever had.

Both kids are ear infection free, however, my son didn't have to go through 5 years of pain to get there.

I recommend tubes.

[Graymatter]

I once had a neighbor, an old Polish lady, who used to swear by her traditional method of treating ear infections. I don't recall the exact process but it involved a lit match. Yes, as in fire. Something about warming up the wax by inserting a string or something and setting fire to it.
Hey she lived to be 99.
Me, I've had a ringing in one ear for nearly 20 years. I just ignore it.

[Caipirabob]

While this may be slightly OT, it's along the line of similar infections.

I used to get frequent sore throat and sinus infections. As a natural extension this could lead to ear distress.

Last year I had a surgery that involved a Septoplasty and turbinate reduction. The results of the combined surgery was supposed to alleviate symptoms of Sleep Apnea. It has helped, but another benefit is that I no longer suffer from nasal or throat infections, nor ear aches as an extension of them.

I catch colds, I can feel them like I used to, but they dissapate within 6-8 hours as if they can never quite catch hold. The last one I felt was yesterday afternoon about 1:00PM, but by 6:00PM I was good enough to go to watch the Marlins get the snot beat out of them by the Braves. No further symptoms or anything...

So for anyone who suffers from these problems, perhaps they might check to see if they have a deviated septum or if they would benefit from turbinate reduction.

My surgery has resulted in a dramatic improvement in the quality of my life.

Jeff, didn't you have a similar surgery about a year ago? I've had wonderful results from mine, hope your experience is the same.

[shempy]

I had tubes put in my son's ears and it was a very bad experience. When the doctor suggested tubes for my daughter I said no way. She had maybe two more ear infections and then the problem went away on it's own

What bothers me the most is that there is no need to put the child under and insert tubes. They can accomplish the same thing by using a laser to put a hole in the ear drum. It is less trauma all the way around, heals better, and requires few if any follow up visits (like replacing the tubes that fall out). Of course, good luck finding a hospital that has this tool. As hard as they push tubes, it has to be a big revenue source for the doctors and hospitals.

[Mrs. Don-o]

My adopted son Vanya had chronic otitis media when he was in an orphanage in Kamchatka. They gave him antibiotics over and over, but never drained his ears. As a result, he spent his crucial language-formation years never hearing clear, articulate speech.

Now he's 14, and, in spite of years of systematic, targeted one-on-one aural training at home (from me, his homeschooling mom) plus intervention from the local University Speech and Communication Clinic, he still struggles with the legacy of CAPD (Central Auditory Processing Disorder.)

I wish to goodness they had drained the fluid from his ears when he was 1, 2, 3, and 4 years old. It is so difficult for a kid when he can HEAR auditory signals but they just don't make a lot of sense.

[thoughtomator]

I had one of these when I was about 12 or so. I thought it was really cool how every so often I could get my ear to leak. One day it fell out on its own and that was that. No problems since that aren't attributable to loud concerts in crowded bars.

[muslims=borg]

I never had ear problems until I was 42 years old. I think its all sinus related which has gotten worse the past two years. Had sinus surgery six years ago which helped reduce the sinus headaches but I still get infections which I think is effecting my ears. I got a bad ear infection last year and my ears have never gotten back to normal, constantly congested and intermittent pain. I'm on antibiotics now but nothing has changed.

[afnamvet]

I had severe ear infections as a child. My mother placed a warm linen bag of warm salt on my ear to relieve the pain. Didn't work.

Today, I have 40% hearing in my right ear and 50% in my left. I can't hear anyone beyond 5 feet of me as I wear two behind the ear hearing aids.

[Marie]

btt