Ear Infections and Enlarged Adenoids

Updated on June 19, 2009
K.D. asks from Saint Augustine, FL
10 answers

Hello All!

Was wondering if anyone has had any experience with ear infections and enlarged adenoids. My son, who is now 4, had ear tubes when he was 19 months old because of constant ear infections. About 1 year later, they fell out and he continues to get more. He has had 5 or 6 documented infections this year, but maybe more. For some reason, he doesn't get a fever and they don't cause him pain until they perforate. Anyway, the ENT said that at his age, it's usually caused by adenoids and that seems to be the case. He said his adenoids were large and his tonsils were slightly large and red. In addition to the ear infections, for the past three months or so, he has been making various noises like grunting and snorting. The grunting was mostly in the morning, but would occur at random as well. That seems to have subsided, but now he is making a snorting sound, but only when he eats or holds his mouth open for me to help him brush his teeth. He's also a mouth breather at night as well as during the day (according to the ENT). The ENT wants to give him a 2 month trial on medication. Veramyst to see if we can shrink the adenoids and Prevacid, an antacid because he thinks the reddened tonsils and grunting could be caused by acid reflux. He said the two, upper respiratory and GI can go hand in hand. I just hate to give him medicine for 2 months, but he said if it doesn't clear up with that, we may end up putting tubes in his ears again as well as remove his adenoids and tonsils. Has anyone been through this with their child, used these 2 medicines and are any of the symptoms similar? Thanks in advance for any response!

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S.W.

answers from Miami on

As a child, I suffered from constant tonsilitis, sore throats, ear infections; and the meds only made it worse. I slept with a feather pillow and wool blanket, both of which are huge culprits to allergies. I did, at age 24, have the tonsils and adenoids removed, and have been well ever since.

Please check your house for a/c filters, carpeting, bedding, laundry and bath detergents, etc. The list goes on.
Taking meds do nothing if you do not know the "root cause"
I have worked with and study with homeopaths, herbalists and medical intuitives. Finding the root cause of any distress will lead you to the remedy.
Wish I knew then what I know now.
Ask your doctor to test for allergies, or give me a shout and I'll hook you up with contacts to take you on the herbal route.

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D.G.

answers from Daytona Beach on

You should get it checked out by a specialist because if fluid is building up in there it can cause deafness i would not take my chances get him checked and keep his immune system build up. But I always go the all natural way with, B,C,E, and fish oil which i give all they of my boys everyday ages 2,3, and 6. My three year old (tonsils) born with breathing problems and the ENT wanted to remove his tonsils and he has sleep apnea and I rejected and decided to do all natural but he has not gotten any ear infection.I am please to day he is healthy and breathing normal and still has his tonsils. u need to also check and see if this is not cause by something he is eating that he maybe allergic to.

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E.G.

answers from Orlando on

K.,

My 2 year old son had continuous ear infections as well and he always had a runny nose, I had no idea the 2 were connected. His doctor recommended that I take him to a ear nose and throat doctor and in turn that doctor immediately recommended to have his tonsils and adenoids removed and to have tubes put in his ears. He had also lost some hearing in both ears from all the fluid. The surgery was quite fast and it took about 2 days for him to start acting like a normal 2 year old. He was very cranky and sleepy after the surgery and a lot of fluid came out with the tubes. Since that day- my son has not had a runny nose or an ear infection! He is a brand new child and he has regained his hearing. Good Luck, but I think the surgery was the best thing I could do for my son!

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J.S.

answers from Miami on

I'd encourage you to work with holistic, natural-oriented physicians and clear whatever is causing his adenoids and tonsils to be irritated and fostering weakened immunity and ear infections. He's probably sensitive/allergic to some foods (dairy foods are the most common culprit with ear infections) and most likely has a block in his subtle energy system (in the head/neck throat chakra area and perhaps in some of the meridians as well - which Western medicine is oblivious to). Cutting out part of the lymphatic system (e.g. tonsils) just impairs the immune system further and leaves people more at risk for serious diseases in the future, such as various types of cancers. Doctors who prescribe drugs to suppress symptoms don't really understand what causes a condition and how it can be resolved. Once upon a time I had chronic throat issues and intermittent clogging up of the ear-nose-throat system, and it cleared away completely when I added immune boosting superfoods to my diet (such as seaweeds and blue-green algaes), avoided foods that my body responded to with mucus/immune reaction, and learned to use energy healing methods to replenish the energy field in that area. I came to understand a lot more about this than almost any doctor I could speak to.

Best wishes,
J. S.

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L.L.

answers from Orlando on

My daughter had her first set of tubes when she was 2 then her second set of tubes and adnoids removed when she was 3. Like you, her tubes fell out and then she started with the ear infections again. Our ENT didn't recommend any medications. So I don't have any advice on that. But, the surgery to remove her adnoids went really well. She was eating regular food by the end of the day. She didn't have her tonsils out. But she is almost 7 now and I think she has only had 1 ear infection since having her adnoids out. PS. Congrats on your 10th wedding anniversary. :) That is rare nowadays. Good for you!

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L.H.

answers from Miami on

I happen to know quite a lot about reflux:
http://www.mamasource.com/business/14059862321568677889

prevacid is quite safe, but you have to make sure it's the proper dose and that you administer it properly in order to see it's full effects. also it can take up to 14 days before you see any effects, so please keep this in mind.
if you are given the solutabs (that's what I would ask for), then make sure to give on an empty stomach followed by a meal 30 minutes later.
as for the dose, children have faster metabolisms than adults, so the dose often times are higher, or as high as, an adult dose- don't let this scare you- babies & children zip through the meds- so make sure it's a HIGH dose and split it into 2 doses a day to allow for him to benefit from continued coverage. if you give it 1x a day then he will 'zip' through the dose and not be 'covered' for a full day...
personally I would not waste time on zantac, pepcid, tagament or axid....especially if tonsils are so red! there's irritation going on there!
also: ask dr about carafate

ok enough of my free advice, LOL!

even if you wind up removing the tonsils & adenoids, all will be ok. hang in there mama!

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A.G.

answers from Mayaguez on

Both medications are very effective and the ENT is probably trying to clean everything up before suggesting surgery again. My grandaughter had colds almost every month, with fever and she snored like an elephant! (hope she never reads this) All until she had her tonsils and adenoids removed. Before that she was on various meds, including Veramyst, which helped, but ultimately had surgery. In almost a year dhe hasn't had any bad colds, so consider the surgery as a remedy. She's also used Prevacid and Zantac and both relieve tummy aches from strong meds.God bless y'all.

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B.K.

answers from Tallahassee on

Maybe he can't digest dairy foods and they clog his ear/nose/eustation area?

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M.T.

answers from Nashville on

My son had the grunting sounds, breathing mouth open and stopped breathing intermittently. He had enlarged adenoids, but we had to have surgery. He was 2yrs old when we did it. That was a lifesaver for us. I personally don't like giving kids medication at that tender age and for so long a period. Do what you think is right in your guts, it's your kid.

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M.H.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

Hi K.,

Yes I went through it and we were able to dodge a lot of long term issues.

First of all, I got my little one on an incredible multivitamin that boosted her immune system. The body truly tries to fight these things off if it has enough strength. The other thing I did to build her immune system was detox my house. Synthetic chemicals (laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, processed foods and preservatives, bath and body products, even meds) break down the immune system. Meds attack symptoms and even if the symptom goes away, it can cause an additional issue. Antacids cause exacerbated reflux because all they do is stop the reflux short term. It comes back with a vengeance. A little secret that most people don't know is that acid is SUPPOSED to be in the stomach. That's what digests the food. The reflux is usually caused by NOT enough acid so the food doesn't digest properly and it doesn't proceed to the next stop along the way...Have you ever opened a piece of tupperware in the refrigerator after the food had gone bad and it spit at you? The gases that are created by rotten food need to escape. If food doesn't digest in the stomach, the gases created can only go through that soft esophagial valve...

Chiropractic care can help as well if you can find a good upper cervical chiropractor that really understands the immune system. I don't know if you are aware but every body part has a job, even the tonsils, adenoids and the appendix. They are meant to "catch" toxins. The tonsils can actually prevent heart issues. If any of these are inflamed in any way they are doing what they are supposed to do. Yes, you don't want them inflamed, but you also don't want to get rid of them either.

Your doctor is right about the digestive system and the ear issue is related. The immune system stems from good nutrition, correct spinal alignment, and the absence of synthetic chemicals. It's hard to dodge them these days, but it's not impossible.

Hope I helped and feel free to ask for clarification on anything if you need to.

God bless,

M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

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