Antibiotic free families - how to get rid of infections?

msoulz wrote: It seems Crystal is one of them - those who don't give antibiotics to the kids - what do you do for the kids when they are sick? Erin is a mess today with a cold which has her coughing and it seems it's in her ears again. But I hate to take her to the doc and get meds again for many reasons, plus it is so hard to get the meds in her. She never got her last dose the last time which could be compounding the issues. But she is so miserable . . . any suggestions are so much appreciated.

MommyToAshley replied: Ashley has never had an antibiotic, but it's not because I am against them, I would give them to her if the doctor prescribed them to her. She has just never needed them yet. But, for a common cold, antibiotics wouldn't be helpful anyways.

Have you tried a cool mist humidifier in her room? Whenever Ashley is congested, this seems to be the most helpful.

msoulz replied: I am afraid it has gone beyond just congestion because she tells me her ears hurt. You are right, I need to dig out the humidifier. It surely can't hurt. Thanks.

jcc64 replied: We're a low antibiotic use family. The way around using them excessively is to stop associating them with a cure for the types of viruses that children typically get. I know it's hard to watch your kid being miserable, but antibiotics are in the VAST majority of cases not going to cure what's bothering them because most infections are VIRAL, not bacterial. There are very few exceptions, strep being one of them. Drs in European countries do not routinely prescribe antibiotics for ear infections, and most do clear up on their own eventually. Drs in the US prescribe antibiotics for ear infections mainly b/c parents demand/expect it, and it's a way to get and keep them out of the office. If your kid gets better from an ear infection from taking antibiotics, chances are he would have done so w/o them as well, it just would have taken a little longer, and we Americans are typically an impatient lot. Medical decisions really do get made for non-medical reasons, more often than you'd think, and that is really at the heart of why we abuse/overuse antibiotics in the states.
Your children are more than likely sick with viruses, of which there are many going around this time of year. Viruses can be severe, and just because your kid is running a high fever for several days or has a cough for a month does not mean he needs antibiotics. In fact, kids who take antibiotics frequently and unnecessarily are the very ones who get sick the easiest b/c chronic antibiotic use actually compromises the immune system's ability to do its job. Every time you take antibiotics, you are killing off the good bacteria present in our bodies that helps to fight off infections, viral or otherwise. Remember that when you're tempted to reach for what you erroneously think is a quick fix.
So, if you want to be an antibiotic free family, it requires a commitment to the idea that antibiotics should be used judiciously and sparingly. Treat them like a precious commodity, not like a tylenol. It's strong medicine, with big consequences, and our failure to recognize that is why we're all now dealing with superbugs like staph and MRSA, which very soon won't respond to any of the therapies we're currently using to treat them.
I hope your kids recover soon.

luvmykids replied: When I had earaches as a kid, my grandmother would heat a little olive oil (not hot, just warm) and have me lay on my side, put a few drops in with a dropper, then put a warm, wet washcloth over the ear. It didn't make it go away any faster, but it did ease the discomfort some.

I hope she feels better soon

eta: I found this site http://www.myhomeremedies.com/topic.cgi?topicid=74&page=2
I don't know if there is anything you'd want to try but thought the one (I think the 2nd on page 2) with olive oil and tea tree oil (an anti-bacterial) sounded sensible.

momofone replied: Go to your local health food store there are natural remedies there - one for ears is Wally's ear oil it contains garlic oil There is collidal silver for good immunity - kids echinecea

msoulz replied:
It is well known that antibiotics do not treat viruses. Sadly it seems her virus ends up pooling in her ears and invites the bacteria along. The last time that is what happened; she started with RSV (no antibiotics prescribed) and ended up with an ear infection, which is when we got the meds. I do get the concept of the body fighting it off but then there are things like strep that need to be treated. I'm just not bright enough to know the difference.

msoulz replied:
Thank you so much!

msoulz replied:
My doc suggested echinecea for preventive measures when one feels a cold coming on. I am hoping she has some alternative in the event she thinks Erin has a bacterial infection.

boyohboyohboy replied: Mary, I think Erin carries staph and seems prone to the ear infections..but that being said..I have to wonder if this one is just the last one not yet cured. Especially if she didnt finish her antibiotic.
Does she have a fever?
I also would recommend the cool mist humidifier for three days at night and nap time.
Try the tylenol and motrin for ear pain and see if it gets better..If she gets a fever or really cries that her ears hurt then I would take her in again. Believe me I know your resistance to go back into the germ infested office...
but if she has the same fluid in her ears as from before, she could cont to swell and pop her ear drum..and have some damage done.

Also if she is having the nose congestion its very possible its the fluid that is going straight back to her ears, will she sleep with her head proped up a bit? can you put some pieces of wood or something under the top two posts of her bed, or a couple pillows under the head of her mattress to raise her up some?

and the saline also is good, little noses to clear her sinus's out to sleep.
I hope she feels better soon.

jcc64 replied:
None of us are. That's what doctors are for. Unfortunately, they often throw antibiotics at patients as a way to expedite the appointment. So it's left to us to decide if it's the right thing to do. It's a disquieting position to be in, not having the essential information to make the right choice when our kids are sick. And fwiw, even when people DO know everything I wrote about upthread, they will still go to the dr if a cold hangs around too long, and come home with a script for antibiotics. My mother does it all the time, no matter how many times my pediatrician brother, (whose 3 kids, ages 14-2, have never been on antibiotics) tells her not to.

Mommy2Isabella replied: Children's Echinaechea, and a Children's Probiotic. At the local health food or health supplement store you will be able to find ear drops. Grapefruit Seed Extract is an ingredient that helps kill infections. I used it when Isaia and I got thrush.

Most of the time if you go in and ask them they can direct you to where you need to go.

moped replied: My kid shave never had antibiotics, they have neve rhad anything serious enough......thank goodness.

I find it hard when they are sick with a cold/flu but I use a humidifier and love...thats about all I can do

momofone replied:
I use GSE too but find it bitter how do you disguise the taste? Thanks

msoulz replied: Well she still has a yucky cough but today her ears don't hurt so we are not making the doc trip. I am hoping for no doc trip this time! Thanks all for your input.

coasterqueen replied:
I just put the GSE in water.

momofone replied:
Thanks it seems to work pretty well for those who have not tried it i would recommend it.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Ya'll know I'm dying to say it.

moped replied:
Say it say it!

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
Colloidal Silver!!