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What Causes Frequent Ear Infections?
My 22 month old son has had over 20 ear infections. He is currently on his second set of tubes (T tubes). We removed dairy from his diet and have seen a subtle improvement but still can t manage to go more than a few weeks without another episode. In February of this past year, his eardrum ruptured, and we were prescribed an ear drop. We found out the hard way that the drop did nothing to help the infection; he spiked a fever which triggered a 30 minute seizure that left him on life support and in the PICU for several days. We are at our wits end, having visited numerous doctors, a chiropracter, and a naturopath. Any recommendations for what we can do? He seems to be getting another infection as we speak, and lately we have noticed a definite sensitivity to noise. Additionally, he contracted MRSA from his childcare, so we are hesitant to continue putting him on round after round of antibiotics.
Fri, 24 Apr 2020
Hello,
This is a very complete and remarkable history you provide. However, it is not so remarkable, but par for the course, in a child with an immunodeficiency. The hallmark of an immunodeficiency (of which there are many kinds) is a patient who suffers many infections.
Sometimes, these deficiencies run in families. Following a prolonged febrile seizure, doctors might wish to place the child on an anti-seizure medication prophylactically to lessen the chance of another seizure should your son get another fever.
After he recovered from the seizure has he been developing normally? With so many ear infections, I hope you are making certain that his hearing is being closely monitored. Allergy and immuno-deficiencies are often studied by the same physician. In one children's hospital where I trained it was the allergist who saw both of these kinds of children.
If it hasn't already been done, I suggest that your toddler's primary care physician refer you to a sub-specialist such as this or, better yet, to an immunologist only.
Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Arnold Zedd, Pediatrician
This is a very complete and remarkable history you provide. However, it is not so remarkable, but par for the course, in a child with an immunodeficiency. The hallmark of an immunodeficiency (of which there are many kinds) is a patient who suffers many infections.
Sometimes, these deficiencies run in families. Following a prolonged febrile seizure, doctors might wish to place the child on an anti-seizure medication prophylactically to lessen the chance of another seizure should your son get another fever.
After he recovered from the seizure has he been developing normally? With so many ear infections, I hope you are making certain that his hearing is being closely monitored. Allergy and immuno-deficiencies are often studied by the same physician. In one children's hospital where I trained it was the allergist who saw both of these kinds of children.
If it hasn't already been done, I suggest that your toddler's primary care physician refer you to a sub-specialist such as this or, better yet, to an immunologist only.
Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Arnold Zedd, Pediatrician
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