Ear Infection or No?

For the past couple of weeks the girls have been inconsolable. It's not an all day thing, but it certain hours of the day. It was happening just between 4-6, now it's happening in the morning until they go down to sleep and also at night.

I'm not sure if it's an ear infection or not. I'm about to call the doctor, but I wanted to get your opinions first.

Their symptoms are:

shaking heads back and forth
tired, very tired (an hour after they wake from naps)
inconsolable crying for hours
foreheads/necks warm to the touch


they are eating just fine, but I'm really concerned because they are getting tired so easily and they are just overly aggravated. they had their ears checks less than a month ago and they were all clear for infections, but i know that they could have developed ones since then. also, haven't seen them tug on their ears.

what do you think this can be? i thought teething, but the crying is getting worse. it's nonstop for hours and it's very loud and sounds discomforting. my poor Aurielle is the worst. she is so upset that she gets upset with her sister and tries to push her out of the way or bite her. I'm at wits end because there is nothing I can do to help them.

Any advice/tips is much appreciated. TIA

 

It could be either I would think. If it will make you feel better have them checked out. I've done that twice with my lo's recently and it turned out to be teething pain. Mine will stick their fingers in their ears and rub their faces so I didn't know what to make of that on top of the fussiness. From what I've read, ear infections can literally develop within hours and some babies can develop them without any visible symptoms. Nerve racking if you ask me. Let us know how they do - hope they feel better soon!

 

I would get it checked out as well just to be sure, but it doesn't sound like an ear infection to me. It seems like it could be teething pain or possibly they are overtired? Are they sleeping as much as normal? I know that when my girls had ear infections they had a hard time eating because the sucking made their ears hurt. Also my girls were very mellow babies that rarely cried so I could usually tell when they were getting an ear infection because watch out, very unhappy, constantly wanting to be held babies! Poor girls, I hope you figure out what is bothering them and they feel better soon!

 

I usually have very mellow babies as well. They are sleeping well. They sleep 12-13 hours as night and take 2 two hour naps a day, but lately they have been going down after an hour of being awake. For instance, I put them down at 11:30 and they woke at 1:00 and they are already tired again. Does teething make them tired?

 

It's been so long for me that I honestly can't remember, but I found this teething link
It sounds like it doesn't cause sleepiness which is why I think it could be something else. If I were you I think I'd take them in because it does sound like something is bothering them.

 

take them in. try motrin.

 

I would take them to the pediatrician. My DS when he had an ear infection had no other symptoms then wanting to be held all the time, not eating, and a fever. We were stunned when the doc said he had an ear infection. Teething really did not make my kids any sleepier either. Keep us posted with how they are doing :hug:

 

Still waiting for someone to call us back. If they don't then DH wants to take them to the ER. They are sleeping right now for the third time today. They haven't taken three naps since they were six months.

 

Motrin isn't helping.

 

If they don't have high fevers and are eating/drinking okay, I would wait for your pedi to call back. The ER is so full of nasty bugs, they might end up with some other 'present'. Hang in there - its so tough when they are sick.

 

Not really worried about them catching anything since they have had both flu shots.

Their foreheads are warm, so I'm going to see if I have a thermometer and try to take their temps.

 

I think it would be pretty unusual for both of them to have ear infections at the same time, though possible. I would try homeopathic ear oil before giving an antibiotic. They sell it at our local natural foods store, Henry's. IMO, antibiotics are overprescribed for ear infections. Garlic is also an effective remedy.

 

It is so annoying when they take forever to call back, I hope you hear from them soon! Poor girls!

 

They never called back so DH took them to the ER. They checked their ears and didn't see an infection. They didn't mention teething at all and didn't notice the huge rash on the back of Aurielle's neck which wasn't there this morning. I will have to take them to their regular doctor tomorrow because it seemed like they were rushed out of there. They both had temps of 99.6.

I don't know if it is teething. They're awfully sleepy and when they're awake all they do is scream. The only thing that calms them down is going to sleep. I felt their gums today and they are super swollen. I can feel their teeth underneath, but they aren't poking through yet.

Do babies scream in agonizing pain from teething?

 

I dont remember agonizing pain screams for teething. Just some more fussiness. Maybe the napping is a growth spurt if they are eating well and sleeping well at night. What about moving up their bedtime in the evening to see if you can get them a little bit more sleep on the front end. Maybe they are just tired and crying because they want to sleep. Also, I would try a frozen washcloth for them to suck on and see if that helps.

Oh and I have to tell you that I took Leah to ORMC when she was about 6 months old, because she woke in the middle of the night inconsolable. After examining everything on her the Dr. says that we might need to do a spinal tap because she could have meningitis. Another Dr. comes in and says, yeah we wont be doing that sorry. I was so relieved, but I took home a baby that they couldnt find anything wrong with. Then the next day, she had a really high fever. So I took her into her Ped. She says, she has a severe double ear infection. Duh, Drs totally missed it. Just an FYI.

 

I'm sorry they are having a rough time. :hug: I agree that teething doesn't usually cause inconsolable crying and extreme tiredness, just usually some overall fussiness. I know how hard it is to see your babies sick! :hug: I know you said they've had the flu shot already, but the ER is literally full of tons of germs, I usually try to limit our visits to emergency situations. For instance when my oldest son was about 18 months old and was puking up blood in the middle of the night Very scary, but it was just a stomach virus that was very violent and caused some small tears in his throat or stomach lining. He had almost stopped puking by the time we were seen.

Anyways, I do hope you can get them into the ped. My kids never show symptoms of ear infections, until they are just absolute monsters. No fever. No ear tugging...nothing. But if they are crying way more than normal and nothing is helping, then I take them in and it's generally full blown infections :hug:

 

Phew, today was a good day for sure! so much better than it has been...I can't believe the transformation. Last night at the ER, both the girls had their ears cleaned out...a deep cleaning. I clean their ears every night, but from teething they are making more wax in their ears than normal and they both had some build up that I could not get to or even see. They felt so much better today and slept normally.

They are teething really bad especially Aurielle...she's my sensitive one. Everything is agonizing to her even when you try to brush her hair. lol

Thanks for all the responses and advice. I really do appreciate it...I don't know what I would do with out you gals.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

 

So glad to hear that they are feeling better, hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!