Dear lactnetters,
I've been lurking for a while and thouroughly enjoying it, I didn't mean to
jump in yet as I feel out of my depth, but this ear thing really gets me
and so I have to comment.  then I'll go back to my quiet corner. First as
an introduction. I have a BSc and MA in neurosciences, but have lately
decided to embark on my other, bigger passion, BFing and babies. I am
starting to study to be an LC and have been a LLLeaguer for a long time. I
am also mother of two, Shahar who is 4 1/2 and nursed 3 1/2 years (how
wonderful to be able to post that proudly and not a little apologetically)
and Deanna, 14 months and "of course" still nursing.

AS for what I have to say about ear infections, I am not a Doctor, but I am
a careful consumer when it comes to my kids. Thus, this is all IMHO of
course!!

Now the soap box.

Personal history, my son had his first sickness at 4 months and was
diagnosed as having an ear infection.  He got antibiotics of course, but no
follow up check because he looked fine to me and the dr. visit was $35.
When he was 8 mos we moved to Israel, so before we left he got a well baby
check. The doc looked into his ear and saw fluid, and perscribed antibios
(ABs) I was able to put this off a little, but when she looked again a few
days later and still fluid, she insisted, saying he could suffer hearing
loss or DEATH if I didn't treat it. I had to give ABs even tho he had NO
symptoms or pain!!!!!!!. One month or so later after we'd moved, he did
actually get sick and a new doc looked in his ears and was so worried by
the terrible ear infection that he sent me to an ENT immediately who
perscribed ABs and said come back in two days to check. We gave them, and
another round because still fluid, and then at the third round of ABs I put
my foot down and called a dif. ENT specialist who I'd heard didn't believe
in ABs for ear infections. He is the head ENT at a major hospital  (Kaplan
in Rehovot), and advisor to one of the 3 HMOs in Israel on ENT. He saw my
son, said beautiful ears, and Shahar hasn't had ABs since. BTW He has been
diagnosed with another ear infection (a year later) but he wasn't
complaining of any pain so I ignored the AB perscription. My ENT dr. that I
trusted said that if it doesn't hurt then its not infected, leave him
alone!

This Docs philosophy is that fluid is normal, leave it alone unless it is
painful, then drain it. Infected fluid, ie otitis media can be fought by
the childs own immune system and should be allowed to do so or else you run
the risk of repeat ear infections and every other cold going around in day
care. (in this country 30 kids share a runny nose and worse all winter
long) There is research to support this assertion that children treated
with ABs are more likely to get repeat infections than those in whom the
infection is allowed to run its course. I don't have the refs, sorry.
Anyway, he perscribes doing something for the pain, ear drops, tylenol, etc
and waiting it out.

What really makes me mad is giving ABs for just fluid. Especially now with
the new diseases being resistant to ABs we need to use them carefully, not
to mention what extended use of ABs does to the toddler/babies developing
immune system. My son seemed to have fluid in his ears a lot, shape of the
head or something. My first two drs would have had him on ABs all winter
for 2 years at least, and he would have probably been sick all the time.
Instead, he wasn't on ABs nor was he sick at all.

What I'd like to say, in sum, is to shop for your dr, before the kids are
sick. Find out:
1. how does he treat fluid in the ear? With ABs or as harmless.
2. how does he treat actual ear infections?

Find someone you trust and who's aproach you believe in.

As for BF while lying down, I asked my ENT dr. about that and the effect on
ear infections. He said, "god couldn't be that stupid". Besides, I thought
the problem was with liquid pooling in the mouth and thus getting to the
eustatian tubes (and also causing dental carries), and we know that that
occurs with bottles that drip into sleeping babies' mouths, not with
nipples that don't deliver milk without active sucking! My son nursed lying
down for 3 1/2 years and had, IMO, only one ear infection at 4 months. He
is VERY healthy!

Ok, I'll climb down from my soap box, and back into my corner.
thank you,
Dalia Abrams