Otitis Media

Otitis Media is the formal name for "Ear Infection" - what Deven now has. Poor little guy - he (and his buddy Noah) both caught a sniffle last week (which one was Patient Zero is still TBC - likely both of them); and both now have ear infections. He's been in a lot of pain, and not himself lately, so we took Deven to the Pediatrician this afternoon.

Dr. Schwanke was concerned not only about his runny nose & cough (what we were concerned about), but also his left ear, which is slightly infected and swollen; and right ear which is more infected and swollen. That said, the treatment nowadays for children like Deven who are otherwise healthy, is to NOT give them antibiotics - pain medication only. The thought is that they should be able to manage the infection on their own (how the Brits do it - or the "tough it out" approach); and that if they can't shake it on their own, then antibiotics - but chronic antibiotic treatment creates a sort of dependency on antibiotics for future infections.

So, we wait. And Deven will likely NOT accompany me to MD this weekend - I'm headed back to the National Tournament, to try for my National rating renewal as a women's lacrosse umpire. I'm really sad that he may not come, but flying with a sick child isn't fair to him or the other passengers; and it's also certainly not easy!

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery...