twin boys with constant ear infections

Stacey - posted on 05/16/2011

I saw that one Mom wrote that she uses saline drops. That is what we use alot of. You can buy over the counter saline nasal spray. It is near the rest of the kids med section in our Walmart pharmacy. I use it all the time in the winter and spring. It sounds like they may have an allergy or possibly asthma. Do a simple check list...pets? smoker? use of aresol sprays like Febreeze? use of candles? Anything that could be an irritant to their lungs could be a problem for their ears. All those sinuses are connected up there. If you smoke, try to quit. If you have problems quitting, smoke outside and then change your shirt before you play with the boys. If you have a pet see if some one else could take it for a couple weeks to see if you can tell a difference in their breathing or infections. Same goes with the aresols and/or candles. Last but not least, and I hate to say it but have you had your home checked for mold? I know it's weird but even that can be a nasty culprit. Hope this helps?

Tanya - posted on 05/05/2011

My id twin boys are coming up to their 3rd birthday- but I so know what you're going through... constant (and I mean constant) illness is draining!! We had ear infection after ear infection (and then because they were low they would catch any bug going). The Doctors never took it seriously- said it was a viral ear infection, so couldn't be treated and said they would improve when they turned 2.... I took it into my own hands and saw a homeopath who was recommended to me... we have not looked back..... they are sooooo healthy now- not had another ear infection and very little illness/colds etc.
One thing she recommended was them drinking goats milk as it's less mucous forming- they loved it ,and it really did help with the mucous. The winter after seeing the homeopath we had NO ear infections!!
She has been my miracle cure and my children are such lovely little boys now that I feel I can actually enjoy rather than fighting fire constantly.
Hope you are able to sort your little ones out and get a break from all the illness.
Tanya x

Krystyna - posted on 04/25/2011

I have 7 yr old twins & a 5 yr old. Only 1 child has had a severe ear infection that required antibiotics. From what I've been reading do not give them anything to drink while they are laying down. The liquid may "backwash" and end up in their ears because of the position they are in. Try feeding them probiotic fortified foods like yogurt, and immune boosting foods (google search) to build up their immune systems.
Good luck!

Lisa - posted on 04/23/2011

Will definitely look into chiropractor as well! Thanks ladies!

Lisa - posted on 04/23/2011

I have taken them to 3 different pediatric ent's. I am quite happy with the one we have now as he seems to be very thorough and will always get us in if its an emergency. Great bedside manner as well. Since Liam has been on the antibiotics, allergy meds, and probiotics he has been sleeping much better which is a great improvement, and he no longer has discharge from his ear. Hopefully this is the last of it. The only problem now is his tummy - majorly constipated. Poor little guy can't win!

Anthea - posted on 04/22/2011

Also had a thought. Have you taken them to a different ent? There is a couple in our area who are known as "butchers" and have made kids ears worse. I realise it's a long shot and not something you want to think of happening but if you've exhausted all other options..... Where do you live? I can recommend a fantastic one in Sydney.

Anthea - posted on 04/22/2011

Hey, I have twin 20 mth old boys. One had recurrent ear infections since he was born. We did grommets in and adenoids out at 14mths and he hasnt had one since. Did yours have their adenoids out too? My ent specialist took them out because they were enlarged and he told me that they too can harbor germs leading to infection. Are they swimming? Could they be getting water in their ears?cheers

Rebecca - posted on 04/22/2011

Take them to the chiropractor!!! I have heard of MANY cases being cured by slight neck adjustments!!! Find a local one and talk to them about it, something about a nerve in the neck being pinched and fluid not being able to drain properly... im not a doctor so i cant say for sure, but many people i know swear by it!

Lisa - posted on 04/22/2011

Thanks Leeanne! My dr actually suggested taking them off cow's milk and putting them on Soy milk. Also, they get probiotics and fish oil every morning, allergy meds before bed and now to get rid of this infection - amoxil and ear drops for 7 days. If this doesn't work they will remove tonsils and adnoids but I really don't want to put my baby through another surgery. This is all so brutal and I feel so helpless not being able to help him. My usually happy baby is one miserable cranky mess!

Leanne - posted on 04/22/2011

It's a milk allergy!! Been down that road 20 years ago and all of my kids (along with me) are allergic to store bought cow's milk and anything with whey added. It's hard to cut out but well worth it. Doubtful you'll find a doctor to back me up so test it yourself and read every label you can get a hold of and keep track of what they eat for 2-3 weeks. Take 'em off of all milk for 2 weeks keeping track of everything. Your life will get much easier. There are other possiblilities too, but it's a definate allergy. Happy hunting!

Andrea - posted on 04/22/2011

We use saline drops and suction. Don't let the mucous build up and they have to suck it into their faces because they don't know how to clear it. Just like adults blow their noses regularly, kids need to get their noses cleared too. I know a lot of kids won't let you near their faces but they will get used to it, and when they get older they will know how to help you blow their noses. It is such an accomplishment when I ask my kids to "blow" and they blow instead of giving me the fits.
You can also use garlic oil drops, mix it with olive oil, and you can ask at the health store what other things they recommend. Having so many sounds severe, suck it out and start at the first sign of the next cold so it won't turn into an ear infection.
We now use a saline nose spray with eucalyptus added, they don't like the feeling when I spray into their sinuses but they understand that it will make them feel and breathe better. It takes some getting used to it, but you have to start somewhere.

Liz - posted on 04/22/2011

My twin boys are also turning 2 in June - and one is named Liam - weird! Anyway, mine both have lots of ear infections as well (started in November), but Liam has them more than his brother. He got tubes at the beginning of February and not only got 3 double ear infections within 6 weeks after the surgery but they were so bad the drops weren't enough to fix them and we had to use systemic antibiotics. I too was at my wits end. We ended up taking him to baby chiropractor because I Heard it can help drain the lymph nodes that might be contributing to the ear infections. We've only brought him to two appts, but he hasn't had an ear infection since. It could be the change in weather, or it could be the chiropractor, or a little of both, but the moms I know that have used one swear by them. The chiro also told us to put him on probiotics to help build up his immune system after all the antibiotics he had had. We also had him tested for immune deficiencies, but he came up fine. When we were in the thick of it our pedi told us it wasn't out of hte ordinary to have this many ear infections, our ENT confirmed, and they told us just to wait out the winter and see if things got better. If not, we were going to test for allergies to see if that was contributing.

Good luck - and I hope you are about to get a break from ear infections!!