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It’s hard to say but do keep in mind that antibiotics will likely give her an upset tummy so you’ll have that to deal with as well.

I’d use them.

My son has been on them a lot unfortunately for so many ear infections. He’s never really had an upset stomach from amoxicillin.

In this case, yes. Since it's your LO's first time doing antibiotics and this sickness has lingered so long I think it's worthwhile.

DS had chronic war infections from nine to 13 months. He finally saw an ENT, who was outspoken about the overuse of antibiotics. But in my mind a one-time occurrence is fine for the meds.

DS got tubes eight months ago and luckily hasn't needed amoxicillin since.

At a month of this, I would probably do it. We just had to give the same to my oldest after I think 10 days of cold symptoms followed by a nasty cough and fever for a sort of nonspecific infection too, but with ears and sounds of fluid starting to build up in the lungs. Her first time having abx was after about a month of coughing. I don't know if I would give for that now without a fever. I am pretty wary of it too.

In this case I would if your doctor recommended it (and if not I wouldn’t). DD2 has had a lot of ear infections this year, and my mom (a nurse) pushes going to the doctor and giving her an antibiotic at the first sight of weird looking snot. I prefer to wait it out, and there have absolutely been times where she’s fought it on her own so it’s a case by case basis for me. But when she has lots of other symptoms like yours does, it could be an indication of maybe a sinus infection or something else and the antibiotic could really help. I actually chose to go that route just last month. Amoxicillin is pretty mild on the stomach, and it’s not like you’ve been in and out of the doctors all winter (which I was so I knew an antibiotic wasn’t a cure all for us). If it turns into a revolving door, I’d take it on a case by case basis. Our pediatrician is actually really good about saying “let’s wait to treat this” and “this one needs to be treated now.”

Its weird to me also that they prescribed them for a possible ear infection. DD1 had awful ear infections but we never gave antibiotics until it was a legit infection. If there was simply a fluid build up we were usually ordered to monitor closely for a fever and bring her back in X days to look at the fluid again.

I'm generally not opposed to antibiotics but it seems pre-preemptive to administer them for maybe nothing?

FWIW - we've never had tummy issues from antibiotics and we've used them a lot.

I would wait till it's an actual infection?

Ugh, DD2 has had snotty nose for a long while now and she's been more proned to ear infections than DD1. But I feel like doctor would either say no, her ears are fine or yes, she has an infection, and not maybe?!

Hmm really tough to say. How is her behavior? Our youngest just went through this - rattly snotty chest, runny nose and not eating well. Towards the end he was acting miserable. Super whiny and not eating. We took him in and he had a double hear infection and bronchitis - so we went for the antibiotics and within a day or two he was his happy self and had no tummy troubles. If your LO is snotty and rattly chest but doesn't seem bothered by her ears, I'd probably skip them.

@lady baltimore: my son had an awful reaction to amox. We found out he was allergic. I wouldn't give antibiotics unless it was a definite on the ear infection.