zinc lozengers

That really helped my son at that age. He never got another ear infection after I would have him suck one after swimming or when he began getting symptomatic, etc. I think they are the bees knees. I always keep some on hand, really has waylaid many a throat or head thing. I am not sure how they help with the fluid but they certainly DO. Also great for swollen glands.

The best tasting for kids are probably the Cold-eze, but the health food store sells them with rice syrup instead of Sugar and I like those a lot. I am always tossing them at people. There are some gross tasting ones out there, but the ones with the rice syrup are probably palatable enough for kids if you are worried about the sugar.