Hi,
Thank you to those of you who sent me concerned emails about my little
one's recent diagnosis of ear psoriosis. However, I ought to point out
that she is totally fine at the moment - knowing what the condition
actually is is rather more helpful than a misdiagnosis! The bonus is
that I too have now discovered why my "eczema" treatments weren't
working :-^

My motives were simply to share something I had discovered because I
actually know of several breastfeeding mothers who weaned, discouraged,
because it didn't protect their babies against ear infections. Ear
infections are not necessarily otitis media. I thought it might be
useful to bear this in mind, next time you get a bitter complaint that
"isn't breastfeeding supposed to protect against this?"

Regards Rob and Dr Jack's comments re ear infection misdiagnosis:
>I agree otitis is very often misdiagnosed.  Especially in ER's and ER docs I've
>spoken to agree. Something happens as soon as a febrile child walks into an ER.
>The ear canals shrink and fill with cerumen and the patient in the next room
>starts having an MI or severe bleeding.

I'd like to point out that when my child had an "ear infection" she use
to have green puss leaking out of her ears and perforated ear-drums, so
it wasn't really difficult to diagnose the condition - the cause was the
difficult thing. And my doctor only prescribed antibiotics once and did
strongly encourage me to continue breastfeeding.

As for suggestions that I put breastmilk in her ear - I agree that's a
wonderful idea but I am not actually lactating at the moment :-(
Thankfully, Emma's ears are fine at the moment too. Sorry if I worried
people and I promise I won't go OT again :-^
--
Anna (Mummy to Emma, born 17th Jan 1995, Alice, born 11th Sept 1996,
??? due 18th April 1998)
Email: [log in to unmask]  Web Page: http://www.ratbag.demon.co.uk/anna