While my daughter was in daycare for almost the first 8 mos of her life, she developed three ear infections for a 3-month stretch there; one for each month.  Needless to say, I was very unhappy about it.  Ear infections aren’t that uncommon in children though, so I’m glad that they’re actually trying to develop an ear vaccine for children.

The vaccine has been tested on, of all things, chinchillas, and can be administered via droplets rubbed on the skin.  Can you imagine, no needles!  (But why chinchillas?).

The chinchillas received the treatment once a week for three weeks.  A control group received a placebo.  The chinchillas that were vaccinated were then introduced to haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), one of the three main bacterial causes of otitis media, an infection/inflammation of the middle ear.  The result: rapid reduction or complete elimination of the NTHi.

It sounds promising, and I hope that we see this vaccine soon.  In the scheme of things, ear infections aren’t that serious, but many babies get ear infections at a frequent enough rate that a vaccine to prevent such an infection would certainly be welcome.

I’m not a doctor.  I’ve never even visited a medical school before.  So why is it when I take one of my kids in to see the doctor for something that may merit antibiotics, suddenly I’m supposed to know the medically appropriate course of action?

The visit usually goes something like this:

Doctor:  Yep, your child does have an ear infection (or whatever the infection d’jour is).

Me:  Ah, yes, I figured as much.  So what should we do now?

Doctor:  Well…some doctors advise giving antibiotics at this point.

(Long pause.)

Me:  So what do you advise doing at this point?

Doctor:  Well, really, it’s up to you.  I can prescribe antibiotics if you would like.

Me:  Okay, but does my child need antibiotics for this infection?

Doctor:  It really depends on which doctor you talk to.

Am I the only mom who has ever dealt with this situation? I don’t know if the physicians my children visit have all been instructed to turn into Dr. Vague when the subject of antibiotics comes up, but sometimes I just want a trained medical professional to tell me what to do.

I know that antibiotics are a sore spot right now and that most medical professionals caution that they are being overused.  I get that.  I don’t want my child medicated unless it’s necessary, but on the other hand I don’t want to deny medical treatment to my child if it’s really needed to clear up the infection.

I have never once went into an appointment for my child and demanded antibiotics.  I have also never refused antibiotics if the doctor decides that it is the best treatment for the ailment.  I will tell you, though, that I have found that getting a definitive decision from a doctor with regards to antibiotics is getting harder and harder.  Usually I have to resort to asking, “If this was your child, would you prescribe antibiotics right now?”  Of course, this only works if the doctor has a child, but it’s a pretty effective way to get a straight answer.