[WVUMom418]

Mia has been home 3 months now and has had non stop ear infections. We went to the ENT today and she wants to put tubes in because of the high number of infections. Mia also tested as having some hearing loss.

I'm happy that something is finallly being done becuase it kills me to keep seeing her suffer. She's been on so many different antibotics and the last one she had an allergic reaction to and we ended up in the emergency room. But I was curious, why does it seem that so many of our wonderful little ones that come home from Guatemala have to get ear tubes?

[Pick Me]

One reason adopted children have high incidence of ear infections is that most of them were not breastfed. There has been a lot of studies etc. that seem to conclusively show a link between non-breastfed babies and ear infections.

Good luck with your little girl and her infections!! Must be awful to watch!

[waitingforthem]

Joan,
Great question! Caleb has been home for just over a month, and has been on an antibiotic since coming home for ear infections! We just went to the doc yesterday, and he was telling me that we were going to have to keep our eyes on this-as he appears to be prone to ear infections! The good thing is-with Summer coming, perhaps there will be less ear infections! Let's hope so!
Take care,
Sabra

[rachellewinter]

I was a breat fed baby and I had an ear infection all the time. I had tubes in my ears 4 or 5 times. I am not a doctor but I know my problem was severe allergies. After I was tested and put on allergy injections I stopped having ear infections. My niece takes after her aunt and has the same problem. She was breast fed and has never been around cigarette smoking either. I think it just depends on the kid. Allergies can cause a huge problem though.


Just my opinion.

Good Luck and I wish you the best.

[katsco]

I also think it depends on the child, their development and environment. My 10 year old that was adopted never had an ear infection and hardly ever is sick. However my 2 nieces that aren't adopted and both breast fed for 1 year were always sick with something.

[NeeNee]

I agree with rachellewinter. I have five bio children..none breastfed. Only one ever had a problem with ear infections. I think he had two good ones in his first year. I attributed that to a couple of children I had I watched that were ALWAYS sick and bringing in colds. Why he got ear infections and others didn't, I'm not sure. I guess he was more prone to it. I did wind up have those two children leave my environment and never another ear infection.

I think it just depends on the baby.

I hope our little one doesn't have a problem with them. It's so hard to watch them when they're hurting!!

[DesertMom]

I read that Native American's have a higher incidence of ear infections because of the shape of their sinus cavities. I'm trying to remember where I read it so I can post a link or recommend the book, but I have Teflon brain today. I'll post it if my brain starts working.

ETA: Ok, brain turned on. It's in "Baby 411" that says, "The facial structure of this ethnic group predisposes them to Eustacian tub dysfunction."

[ccooey]

Just another post to say that a lot of ear infections have to do with genetics I think. My 6-year-old biological son had constant ear infections when he was a baby even after having tubes put in his ears. I nursed him for nine months and took a nine-month leave of absense from work to stay home with him, so his problem couldn't be blamed on day care or bottle feeding. In talking to my MIL I found out my husband had constant ear infections when he was a baby as well. Our daughter has had a lot of ear infections since we've had her home too and summer cannot come soon enough for me!
Carla

[rrrajan]

children prone to ear infections are prone due to the physical shape of the inner ear canal. in some individuals this canal is softer, more compressible/floppy; thus easily backed up/closed off with fluid when colds/viruses hit. the vast majority of ear infections are viral; bacterial usually come secondarily when the viral infection has been there first. there is nothing to treat a viral ear infection except time.

as they grow, that inner ear tube will firm up...that is why adults rarely get ear infections relative to kids.

hang in there!

[cr653]

Hi!
i could be crazy,
but i think kids in general have these issues,
and it's seems like a lot of ours,
because those whose kids have ear issues are able to respond and do respond to the posts about the tubes, etc.

in our house,
my middle child had the ear issues and tubes,
but Mira, has only had one ear infection.

i think it's just one of those 'kid things'!

cris.

[adriennerm]

Hi,

I can tell you that I had non-stop ear infections all the time when I was young. I think my mother had a constant supply of pink bubble gum flavored amoxycillin in our refrigerator. It was something that I eventually just grew out of.

Good luck at the doctor.

[csw]

Neither one of my kids has ever had an ear infection.
I had read about a link between cows milk and ear infections, as well as certain vaccines and ear infections..but, as has been said the anatomy of the Eus. tube in some kids makes them more prone to them as well.

[bekalynn]

Well I'm finding this informative!

This is week 4 that my little man has been taking anti-biotics for an ear infection and I am PRAYING that they have worked (but fearful that they haven't as he's still batting his ears pretty badly - BUT he's also drooling up a storm, so could be teething?) - he's due for his 9 mo. well baby next Tuesday, we'll find out then!

It does hurt your heart something fierce to watch them suffer -- especially when the traditionally prescribed medications cannot be given to my baby boy -- they tear up his tummy, so his ped is having to give alternatives and it becomes a "let's try this" game...

[LilmissBrianna]

My oldest daughter is hispanic and she did not have one ear infection. All kids are different. Possibly this could be due to the infections that she is exposed to with other children in daycare etc.. Also if you smoke, daycare worker smokes, grandparents smoke (even if you do not smoke around her-but can smell on your clothes or in the home) it makes a child more suseptable to ear infections. Hispanic children have a higher incidence of asthma.
Good luck with the tubes-this is indicated for children with any amount of hearing loss.