Middle Ear Infection

Our son is now 15 months old. Within the past 4 months, he has had middle ear infection 3 times. The past 2 infections were within 1 month (after starting nursery).

After talking to the doctor and other mothers, I have realized how strong and patient my son is. He hasn’t cried or showed pain, just been less active and restless during the night. His symptoms were similar to a severe cold.

All of the middle ear infections were treated with penicillin and (in one case) combined with cough mixture. He would be fresh again usually after 1 week.

The last time we went to the doctor with our son, he suggested we get him checked at the ear specialist, as our son might have tendency to get a middle ear infection easily. If that’s the case it could be related to the size of his middle ear and his ability to combat an infection.

If the specialist finds it necessary for a long-term treatment, one of the options is a drainage tube fitted to the middle ear. Just writing it makes me shiver and I hope it will not be as painful as it looks/sounds.

This is what a normal eardrum looks like:

And with a drain:

These are the suggestions given to me by my doctor to minimize the occurrence of middle ear infection:

• Baby must be breast fed minimum 4 months (strengthens the immune system)
• Does not go to places with many other children, such as a nursery
• Does not share his/her toys with other children
• Does not share his/her nipple with other children
• Does not use the nipple excessively
• Does not have smoking parents
• Does not have parents who used to have excessive middle ear infection.

In our case:

• My son stopped drinking breast milk completely when he around 11 months old
• Unforunately does go the nursery, however an alternative could be a babysitter
• Does share toys with the children at the nursery
• Does not use nipple, never has, not even when he was a baby
• Does not use nipple, never has, not even when he was a baby
• Mama & Papa do not smoke
• Mama & Papa did not have excessive middle ear infection when they were children

The specialist appointment is due sometime in August or September. I will let you know how it goes.

I hope nothing serious comes out of this…