Ear infections - do your kids let you know when - there's a problem?

Celestrina wrote: Usually I can't tell when Ben has an ear infection; he doesn't complain or rub/tug his ear. Once when I took him for his annual checkup, both were infected. Friday night Ben was rubbing his left ear and said it hurt. Fortunately I was able to get an apointment first thing Saturday morning. When Ben woke up on Sat., he said his ear was fine. The Dr. looked in his right ear first and asked if that's the one he said hurt, because there was a mild infection. I said no, then he looked in his left and that one was infected too. Do you have the same problem? We're just afraid that next time he won't say anything until it is serious.

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: The only EI I remember dealing with was when Katy was a baby...I thikn there has atleast been another one but can't think of who or when...ANyway
MOst Dr's aren't giving meds for mild Ei's anymore because most will just run their course. I would guess by the time it is bad enough that meds would be in order he would notice the pain and say something about it.

A&A'smommy replied: awww he is a good boy... alyssa is the same way usually no signs the few times she has had a one she when she was getting checked for something else

luvmykids replied: With all three of mine EI's only accompanied other stuff like sinus infections so I eventually learned to guess (pretty accurately) if they had one or not depending on how sick they were with something else.

Macie though has been messing with her ears for a few weeks and I always thought it was just when she was tired but my mom watched her for a day and said she did it all day long. I'm going to try to get her an appt tomorrow and I'll feel terrible if she has had one all this time

zdk753 replied: Zachary is the only one of mine who ever got EI. He never cried or tugged on his ears when he got one, but he would all of sudden not want to eat or drink & just sleep all the time.

mom21kid2dogs replied: Olivia has only ever had one ear infection but is was with croup so she was into the doc anyway. I know a couple of kids who have "silent" ear infections. Instead of ear pain they show other symptoms~not ear pain or fever. They are generally more clingy and less active. Those are the only clues for their parents.

sparkys2boys replied: Logan was 6 and had such a bad ear infection that he ended up in the hospital and he never once said that his ear hurt, he was running a fever that I could not get down and that's what took us to out patients and they ended up keeping him. I think alot of times kids dont know that it hurts

michmom replied: We've been really lucky. None of mine have really had problems with ear infections.

redplaydoh replied: Lucas doesn't tell me, Bryan does... I just have learned how to "read" Lucas' face to know when something's not right, if he's in pain or sick...

jem0622 replied: I used to fuss a lot over my oldest DS. He did get a lot of EI's, and ended up with tubes.

My youngest kiddos just recently had double EIs. I'm still scratching my head on that...3 kids with double EIs (and two with ruptured ear drums!).

If they complain about it, have lack of sleep or appetite...then I do go in. But it takes a lot for me to take them in to the ped office these days. Even with the worst fevers.

kit_kats_mom replied: Lauren never says anything. the only way I've ever been able to tell is when she starts sleeping poorly. She usually starts waking up frequently and she wants to nurse a lot. She is only able to fall asleep if she's almost sitting straight up. When that happens, she usually has an ear infection.

boyohboyohboy replied: My kids generally do let me know, or show me cues, its whether or not I am alert to them is the thing....
caleb had 5 his entire life, and jake has now had 3. but neither one of them tugged at their ears, it was usually just a sleep disruption and then as it progressed decreased appetite.
never a fever either