Re: Punctured eardrum

Donna -

I wish you had gotten the silver earlier.   We have now moved from an infection to actual physical trauma. Mainstream medicine excels with physical trauma as well as diagnoses and my advice is to go to an eye, ear, nose and throat specialist. Most likely the doctor will want to put your son on antibiotics.  When I was in the second grade, my ear drum ruptured and I seem to have survived the packing and unpacking of my ear and the antibiotics.  Of course keep in mind that current treatment methods may be different since my eardrum problem occurred roughly during the time of the Civil War.  Well, maybe a little bit afterwards . . .

Keep in mind that you have a choice as to how to proceed once you have had your son examined.  Here is what I found online that may be pertinent:

Expert: Kristina Conner, ND
Date: 10/3/2007
Subject: ruptured eardrum

Question
Hi,
My son is 3 yrs old.He has had a cold for several days.Very congested but can't blow his nose.Yesterday we went to the pedi for a well visit and he said it is just a cold and that his ears are fine.Later that night my son woke up screaming.Today I took him to the doctor again(different one in the same practice).She said that one eardrum has ruptured(pus and blood) and the other is infected.She prescribed amoxicillin and ofloxacin(drops).My son doesn't have a fever and is pretty active and not in pain anymore.I am hezitant to start the antibiotics.I read that eardrums heal on their own.This is my son's first ear infection and she told me he could lose his hearing.What do you think.I would really appreciate your opinion
Thanks

Answer
Hi Desi
You have hit upon a very controversial subject.  Even in conventional medicine, the opinion is split about the use of antibiotics for ear infections.  The American Academy of Pediatics advises a wait and see tacit, as in wait and see if the infection gets worse (higher fever, more pain, etc.)  In practice, most pediatricians don't practice this way, and still give antibiotics regardless of the severity of the infection.  
Yes, you are correct that ear drum will heal, usually without consequence.  (kids are remarkable resilent).  And yes, there is the possibility that an infection will cause hearing loss, but this is not common.  So, these are things you must weigh.  It's hard for me to judge, since I don't know him and can't evaluate him, and your pediatrician knows only what she can see in the office.  You know best what's going on with your son, and if you feel he is on the mend, it may be reasonable to stay off the amoxicillin and just do the drops.  On the other hand, if you do give him both, he will likely do fine, also, and with some probiotics, recover from any harm the medications may do.  
Regardless of what you do with the medications, you can help him recover by getting lots of rest, fluids, a nutritious, low sugar and dairy diet, and supplement with a immune booster.  My favorite for kids is Larch or Larix (brand name), echinacea is also great, and even just vitamin C and zinc can help.  
Good luck!
Dr Conner

I personally would also add bromelain for swift healing.  I hope that helps.

Tony

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