My son has had several ear infections for the past 8 months or so. He is 17 months old. Well last night his doctor said he "qualified" for tubes. Our other option (because I have a $4,000 deductible on my health insurance) is to have him on an antibiotic daily until April and see if that keeps him from having them.

Also, he got his first dose of the shot last night instead of an oral antibiotic. We have to go back tonight and tomorrow night for another round of shots. They have to give him 3 in a row.

My questions to you all are: 1. Anyone ever have the shot? Did it last awhile? Any side effects?
2. Anyone do an antibiotic daily?

Thanks in advance for your help!! ;)

I don't have personal experience on this subject, but I would suggest the tubes. A temporary antibiotic is just that... temporary. Children's eustachian tubes are horizontal before maturation and that is why they infect so easily. This won't change for a number of years, and you can't be on an antibiotic for YEARS without building up an immunity to the antibiotic itself. I would encourage you to look into the surgery options. You would be amazed how easily it will be from there forward.

I say this as a speech language pathologist who works closely with audiologists and clients who have or have had tubes.

Good luck with your decision.

Our daughter was just done with an antibiotic for 8 weeks to prevent an ear infection. She got a cold while on it - but no ear infection (which normally she would!)....I am almost fearful of her being done now. However, now we have the eye teeth coming in - so we have gone from one issue to another. Antibiotics can't tame teething pain....so on the 18th we will see how well we have been doing....time will tell. But since this isn't for years....you might want to consider it. I wasn't comfortable with it at first either, but your DR is a DR for a reason - so on some level you have to trust her/him. But I don't know how long that shot(s) last.....we had the Oral stuff....keep us posted on this one. I am curious to know.

Both our oldest and youngest have had countless ear infections. Both were given the daily antibiotic. It worked well for our first, but didn't do much for our daughter, who ended up with tubes, three times. I would say to give it a try. It does work for many little ones. I don't know about the shot. That is one option they never used with either of them.

Nancy