Ear Infection Continues

We were back to the pediatrician this morning to have Oliver's ears checked again. The dramatic (positive) change in mood that I was expecting after the first round of antibiotics had a chance to do its work had never occurred and although Oliver wasn't waking up coughing, I've seen him tug at his ears. Or in the case last night, trying to jam his fists into his ears.

My suspicions were confirmed when the doctor said the infection in his right ear is still there. It's not any worse at least, but also not better. He prescribed a different antibiotic, Cefdinir.

As I explained how baffled I was by the lack of clear symptoms indicating an ear infection, the doctor explained that ear infections "come in many flavors," with one kind being where the ear drum is enlarged, which would cause piercing pain, or in Oliver's case, where there is mild inflammation, which most likely causes a dull discomfort along with the sensation that your ear won't pop. So that would explain why Oliver wasn't showing any symptoms, at least not the type that I could differentiate from a baby dealing with a change in nap schedule, daylight savings time, a natural reduction in appetite that occurs around 12 months and a persistent cold.

I learned recently that babies and toddlers average 15-20 viruses a year, with each lasting three to seven days. Even on the low end, that's more than one virus a month! No wonder Oliver seems like he's had a cold for weeks, because he probably has. The doctor said it's not uncommon for some kids to literally have a cold all winter, yet it's par for the course and not something he'd be worried about.

That pesky cold is most likely what caused the ear infection, but that it's impossible to avoid them. Babies are such oral creatures - meaning they put EVERYTHING in their mouths. I'm a persistent hand-washer, but don't wash Oliver's hands unless he's had something sticky and/or gross in his hands. Do you know how cumbersome it is to try to hold a 20-pound baby over a sink to wash his hands for him? When I asked if now that the cold has caused a lingering ear infection if I should try harder to clean Oliver's hands, the doctor started to suggest I could try a hand sanitizer foam, but then added that really the only successful preventive measure would be to keep him in a bubble.