otoscopes anyone?

Has anyone bought an otoscope before, and have you found them to be helpful for your kids with ear infections? I was looking at the one in the one step ahead cataloge and was wondering if it was worth it. Please share your experiences.

Josh's ENT appt is Thur, but I am bringing him in to his primary today because he is acting very crabby like he gets when he has an ear infection. He will probably be getting tubes, but even then it still might be nice to have an otoscope. Let me know what you think!

 

If they are not too expensive - I say go for it! Is an infected ear easy to spot - would be my only concern - and it's not going to save you a run to the Drs - but at least it might let you know if you need to take him in. Couldn't hurt!

Mine are both on daily doses of antibiotics to keep ear infections away. So far so good - we've been free of them for the last 2 1/2 months or so!

Good luck-

 

I know there were a few moms on here a while back that were talking of buying one. Maybe they'll post for you.

 

My sister that is a doctor told me not to bother. She said it's really hard to spot them if you don't have a trained eye and it would be a waste. I think it's worth the peace of mind to go to the ENT and get it checked if you suspect an infection, especially if they have tubes!

 

I do have one and I haven't been able to tell when Conner (my boy with the ear infection issues) has one. In fact, I haven't even been able to get the thing in position so I can see his eardrum.....

 

quote:
Originally posted by melissao:
My sister that is a doctor told me not to bother. She said it's really hard to spot them if you don't have a trained eye and it would be a waste. I think it's worth the peace of mind to go to the ENT and get it checked if you suspect an infection, especially if they have tubes!


This is what my friend who is a pedi/internist told me too!!

 

I'm an audiologist and you really do need the training to pick one up. I say save your money.

 

Thanks for your replies! I will skip getting one then. I am a pediatric RN, so I figure I should be able to figure it out. But if they are poor quality, it won't help much.

I was right about Josh anyways, he doesn't have an all out infection yet, but still has the fluid and pink ears. When he gets his tubes I am hoping for WAY less infections, and you're right, I would have to go to the clinic anyways for abx.

Dana, glad to hear the low dose abx are working for you. We are currently on omnicef to prevent infections, but it obviously isn't working. ACtually oral abx haven't worked at all. The only thing that has worked is IV abx, and IM Rocephin (well, that helped, but didn't get rid of them completely). Here's to ear tubes!!