M was prescribed antibiotics for the first time yesterday. I'm very hesitant to give her antibiotics, I would much rather let the ear infection run it's course. But then since she is so young and can't tell me how she is feeling I also don't want her to suffer unnecessarily.
For now we are administering it per pediatrician recommendations.
What's your feelings on antibiotics?
honeydew / 7589 posts
I believe they absolutely have their place, but they are prescribed far too frequently for illnesses that would be better cleared in other ways.
squash / 13199 posts
I dont like to over do them for myself or LO but with ear infections I do give them to her just because I dont know if its the type of ear infection that might get worse and cause a burst drum or not. Also ear infections are so painful I dont want her to suffer
My LO has had antibiotics 3 times now. she is 11.75 months
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@Arden: I feel the same. Actually, I haven't had to be on antibiotics for years.
But I'm sure I'll be more inclined to just accept whatever the ped says for LO, especially for ear infections. I was prone to them when I was little, and I even had one as an adult-- it was seriously awful. All I could think of was poor little babies getting them, if as an adult, I was in so much pain.
But in general yeah, I want to know if it is an infection that needs antibiotics or just something that has to run its course either way.
coconut / 8472 posts
I hate when doctors prescribe antibiotics for a virus. But if it's an infection that won't go away on it's own, I would use it. For example, I occasionally get sinus infections and they just don't go anywhere until I get antibiotics. I also wouldn't want LO to suffer needlessly if the antibiotic will help give relief sooner.
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
If they're prescribed, I give them. Ear infections are nothing to mess with so I give them to her for that.
kiwi / 613 posts
I feel like if the doc looks into my lo's ear and says its an ear infection then I will definitely give the antibiotics prescribed to clear it up. I wouldn't want my lo to suffer by trying to have it run its course and while I agree they are prescribed rather frequently, I don't think its as horrible to give your lo medication as some may make it seem. (within reason of course!)
coconut / 8305 posts
@Arden: Agree!
@regberadaisy: G has had antibiotics TWICE in his whole life! The pharmacist looked at me like I had two heads when I told her my 8 y/o had never had amoxicillin! lol
Generally I believe most infections will clear themselves up on thier own & we always look into natural remedies first. Even as an adult I had an ear infections that cleared on it's own, as most do (atleast this is what I've read). It's really rare that I feel the need to take any of us to the doctor though too.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@runsyellowlites: I think at this point in M's life any time she has a fever above 101 I take her bc I'm afraid of it going higher and causing potential long term damage. Same thing for the ears, I've heard of people having hearing issues due to untreated ear infections.
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
I give them when LO's dr prescribes them which isn't every time she is sick.
GOLD / wonderful pea / 17697 posts
This was one of the things I talked about with our pedi when I interviewed her before E was born. She told me that 9 times out of 10 she'd prefer it to just let it run it's course, so if she recommends it we know she's not just doing it willy-nilly, and we'll go with it.
honeydew / 7589 posts
@regberadaisy: I've actually never had an ear infection, but I have a lot of friends who use garlic oil to kill ear infections. You can get it at health food stores. Just a thought.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I have just finished giving my son a course of amoxicillin for 10 days for a double ear infection and eye infection. He's 28 months and this is the first time he has had abx. Wouldn't you know he's also allergic?
Not my favorite solution, but I don't see another alternative at this moment.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@FutureMrsMcK: same. This was important to me that they don't prescribe medication at the first sign of illness. M has actually been to the pediatrician three times this winter and this is the first time anything has been prescribed.
@looch: oh no, what do you do now that he's allergic? We were told to call if a rash develops and it may also cause diarrhea.
coconut / 8305 posts
@regberadaisy: I use Seattle Children's Hospital fever guidelines for the kiddos.... thus having never taken them in. And FWIW my sister had multiple ear infections as a kid, me having zero & she has WAY better hearing than I do! lol
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@runsyellowlites: hahah I know it's not common but I don't want M to be that "one"!
GOLD / pomelo / 5737 posts
I want to say what @arden said... but so far LO hasn't needed them (thankfully!) so I can't say for sure!
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@looch: my co workers son had the same reaction. Hers was also after he was done with it. 
does he still have the rash? I think she said she used magnesium powder to help, I can confirm.
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
I only take them if I absolutely have to (haven't taken any in over 3 years).
Thankfully my kids haven't had to take antibiotics yet. I would only give it to them if I felt like they absolutely needed to.
pomelo / 5093 posts
Antibiotics are way over prescribed to a really unacceptable degree. That being said, I'd never not give my child one for an ear infection. Ear infections have been linked to hearing issues, nerve damage, so much scary stuff. And they hurt like hell. I'd go way over board trying to fix that for my kid. It's the cold and flu kind of stuff that I'd not do them for.
persimmon / 1479 posts
@FutureMrsMcK: This exactly!
Our doctor and I are on the same page about being cautious about using them. So if he reccomends it we take them, otherwise we let things run their course.
pomelo / 5820 posts
As someone who developed a very serious infection from being prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic when it wasn't needed... I only take them when it is 100% clear that they are necessary - not prophylactically.
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