How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

DS already seems so much better after just 1 day on antibiotics. I know I'll give it to him for a few more days but was wondering if we need to give it to him for the whole 10 days. It is SUCH a fight making him take it.

Re: How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

DS had his 1st ear infection a month ago, He didnt really have any symptoms except for being cranky, which also had to do with teething. He seemed a little better after a few days of antibiotics. I was also giving him motrin for the teething pain before bed. He liked that taste better so I gave that first then the antibiotics.

Re: How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

You have to give antibiotics for the entire prescribed length of time. If the doctor prescribed 10 days... 10 days it is.

Re: How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

The full 10 days ALWAYS!

It is very important to finish antibiotics, even if DC is feeling better the bacterial infection may not have been completely killed. Also, under treating an infection is one of the causes of resistance to antibiotics, meaning that later the same course of meds may not work on the infection.

Re: How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

I always give it for the time instructed. stopping too early can just bring the infection back if not fully healed.

the last time we had augmentin the pharmacy flavored it with orange and it smelled like pinesol! DS would not take it straight in his mouth. they said it was ok to mix in his yogurt..so thats what i did. Worked like a charm.

Re: How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

Same full 10 days.

Re: How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

Take it from a "Tubes Mama". Give it the 10 days or you'll never know its effectiveness. We always gave it for 10 days even when we knew the worst was over and we STILL had to put tubes in her ears. If you stop too soon, its like putting a band-aid on it.

Re: How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

ALWAYS ALWAYS give the entire prescribed amount of antibiotics.

If you do not, you will be contributing to antibiotic resistance. When you start to give antibiotics, the weakest bacteria die first. The strongest ones hang on for longer. They develop an "immunity" to the anitbiotic. If you do not give the full amount, these stronger bacteria can live and reproduce. Then when the same antibiotic is prescribed for a future infection, the bacteria are resistant.
By giving the full prescribed amount, you are more likely to kill off ALL the bacteria, not just the weak ones.

Sorry for the science lesson, but stopping antibiotics too early is very common practice and many people do not understand the ramifications of it.

Re: How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

Full amount for the time prescribed. ALWAYS!!!!!!

Re: How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

Antibiotics should start working immediately (that's why you see the difference) but, like all pps said - you should administer as directed.

For DS' ear infection, they gave more than the 10 day supply and it said to discard after 10 days - so we gave it to him for 10 days and then threw it out.

ETA - could you mix it with food? That's what we did because it was a fight as well.

Message edited 11/2/2010 2:14:40 PM.

Re: How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

ALWAYS follow the perscription's directions -

Sometimes it's 7 days, sometimes 10, sometimes until they're finished etc. -

Re: How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

Posted by cgdg61606

You have to give antibiotics for the entire prescribed length of time. If the doctor prescribed 10 days... 10 days it is.

Re: How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

Isn't your dh a surgeon? Wouldn't he suggest to his patients to complete the Rx?

Re: How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

DS had his first ear infection a month ago & I gave him the antibotics for the full 10 days. He seemed to be better within days but when we went back for his recheck after the 10 days on the antibotics, he still had the infection in 1 ear & ended up on another antibotic for another 10 days

Re: How long did you give antibiotics for your DC's ear infection? Do you stop after s/he feels better or until you run out of antibiotics?

You always need to give antibiotics for the full length of time that it is written for. If you only give it for a few days it can - 1) not fully get rid of the infection even if they feel better and 2) you can develop a resistance to antibiotics b.c you might need to take them more often b.c you do not fully get rid of the infection if you don't take it for the full amount of time.