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Neomycin,Polymyxin B Sulfates and Hydrocortisone??
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AbbisMommy posted:
My 6 year old daughter had T-tubes put in 4 years ago. They are still in and her doctors (3 different ones) say they look fine and there is nothing to worry about. Two weeks ago she was in the pool (had ear plugs in) and jumped off the diving board. That night she was screaming that her hears hurt. I took her to the doctor and he said she has swimmer's ear and gave me ear drops, Neomycin,Polymyxin B Sulfates and Hydrocortisone. The issue now is that she is screaming that the drops make her ears, nose, and throat burn. She is terrified to have them put in and I am terrified to give them to her. Is it normal for these drops to hurt her? And does swimmer's ear cause a nasty, crusty, foul smelling discharge? I am starting to question her doctor's feedback.
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Rod Moser, PA, PhD responded:
I have to disagree with your doctors choice of ear drops....

Neomycin is considered ototoxic and should NOT be used in a person who has tubes. The only class of drops that can be used safely is ciprofloxacin (Ciprodex or Cipro HC) or Floxin. You need to call her doctor and get the proper one. You can check on this contraindication on line, but I never use neomycin in an ear with tubes. Besides, neomycin also has a nasty habit of causing skin reaction, perhaps the reason she is crying with drops.

When you get the new drops, make sure to bring it up to body temperature (hold it under your arm, etc.) before instilling them. Cold or room temperature drops do not feel very good.

The classic sign of swimmer's ear is tragal tenderness (the tiny flap of skin in front of her ear opening...push on it firmly, and if it hurts she most likely does have swimmer's ear), or pain when you tug on her outer ears. If it is not tender or painful, I would personally question the diagnosis.

A child with tubes for three years can just as easily have a MIDDLE EAR infection that could mimic swimmer's ear if the doctor did not get a good view of her eardrums due to the drainage. In that case, she may need an oral antibiotic as well.
 
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AbbisMommy replied to Rod Moser, PA, PhD's response:
Thank you very much! Her doctor only looked at her for 2 seconds and diagnosed her. I stopped giving her the drops and will be calling her ENT Monday morning.
Thanks again!
 
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Rod Moser, PA, PhD replied to AbbisMommy's response:
So, does she have tragal tenderness or pain when you tug on her outer ear or not?

Seeing the ENT is very appropriate.
 
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AbbisMommy replied to Rod Moser, PA, PhD's response:
Abbi saw her ENT yesterday and she does not have swimmer's ear. She has middle ear infections. Her doctor gave her ciprodex drops and scheduled an appt. to remove her T-tubes next week.
This is the second time her doctor has misdiagnosed her, so it is time to change doctors.
Thank you for your help!
 
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Rod Moser, PA, PhD replied to AbbisMommy's response:
I think we both called that one..... I suspected that she did not have swimmer's ear. Misdiagnoses often happens when medical providers don't listen....or take the time to do a proper exam.

I know she will get better now that she has been properly diagnosed and treated. Thank you for the update.


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