Question

Hi moms, Has anyone gone to ENT during this pandemic for their children? I have a 5 month old baby that has had an ear infection for essentially a month straight. Is currently on his 3rd round of strong antibiotics prescribed by a pediatrician and his symptoms are not resolving. He also had an ear infection end of January. both my husband and I had ear tubes as a child so I know this may need to happen and I’m worried we will be on antibiotics for months before it can happen with this pandemic. I’m one exhausted mom of three on very little sleep. I will be calling a few ENTs in the morning. just trying to get insight as to what to expect.  

Answer 1

A lot of them stopped doing ear tube surgery because there was some early data that ENTs were more susceptible to Coronavirus. Now I don’t think they’re doing them because it’s elective and the equipment is needed elsewhere. We go to Dr. Kazuba at DMG. We had an appointment right at the beginning of the shut down and have another appointment next week. I haven’t heard that the appointment has been canceled so I’m assuming they’re open.  

Comments

@feldman737 yep that’s my thoughts as well. Just trying to figure out what to do for him so he can get sleep, and I can get sleep as well

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@misha552 my son has a unique circumstance, but he had repeated ear infections and then an allergic reaction to amoxicillin, so the doctor told us to just use the drops, not an antibiotic. But he wasn’t having much pain and had tubes in already, so it doesn’t sound like that would help you. Good luck!  

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@feldman737 thank you so much, I’m praying we can find something to help him as repeated antibiotics are not good either for his poor gut.  

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@feldman737 his partner is a family friend and they will work on a case by case basis!  I believe they will do tubes still!  

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@nonmetal3 thank you!  

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@misha552 we used dr Burgette from the same dmg office for my daughter’s tubes in December. It was super quick and I’d recommend him! He’s great!  

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@nonmetal3 thank you!  

Answer 2

My fiancé has had a double ear infection for 7 months now. 3 doctor visits, 2 ENT visits and still can’t resolve it! Finally going again on Monday after a month and half wait, everyone going has to wear face mask and temperature will be taken at door.  

Answer 3

You know what I’m gonna say. call and try and get in! I’m sure they have strict rules for who they see.  

Comments

Dr Manali Amin is highly recommended for peds. Otherwise I really like Dr Kaszuba.  

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@dovev5240 thanks Tara. I’m gonna try to call one office this morning when they open. Yet another very rough night in the Ogle household last night , on day 7 of cefdinir and it’s clearly doing nothing

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@misha552 ugh poor Jack Jack (and mom)!  

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@dovev5240 legit never been so tired and emotional in my entire life.  

Answer 4

I’m not sure who you’re seeing, but we treated my son with Dr. Amin in Naperville and she is so kind and so thorough. She would gladly go through your expectations and from what I remember - she did not like all the med rounds. So I think it def depends!  

Comments

@hessler4 that’s who I plan on calling! Thank you so much

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She is our ENT. Her office and her are top notch.  

Answer 5

Take your baby to a chiropractor. Have them adjust the ears for proper drainage. Mullein garlic ear drops, you can buy at Wholefoods, 3-4 drops in each ear. My daughter was very prone to ear infections and that’s how we got them under control

Comments

@tranquillize5 no chiros are open right now from what I understand otherwise I would in a heartbeat

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I’ve taken my daughter since she was 2 weeks old to Dr Tilson from Tilson Chiropractic near 59 and Montgomery rd. I recommend him although he doesn’t specialize in children. The adjustments make all the difference in the world.  

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@misha552 optimal health and wellness is open. They are in Shorewood. So may be kind of far. They see babies. They adjusted my baby when she had reflux.  

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@misha552 I go to the chiropractor every week because I am pregnant. They are definitely open. Appointment only. It’s worth a try. You get quick results without having to put your little one under. When you call, make sure you mention that you need the chiro to be knowledgeable in adjusting the ears. My daughter is 3 now. I take her for him to do her ears anytime she gets a cold/mucus so that it doesn’t pool behind the ears. She’s had 3 ear infection and all cured within the 4-5 days and without antibiotics.  

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@tranquillize5 where do you go?  

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@misha552 I go to Tilson Chiropractic near 59 just south of Montgomery Rd. The staff is all wearing masks. They disinfect thoroughly. He is fantastic. The adjustments on littles are very gentle, my little one doesn’t cry or anything. When she was really little, she’d always poop right after. A lot of insurances cover chiro for minors.  

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@tranquillize5 I used to bring my daughter for colic to a chiro

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We go to him because that’s who I’ve been going to for years but you can always search for pediatric chiropractors if you want someone who specializes in kids. Also, you have to go a few times. It’s not a one time thing. Go weekly or biweekly for a month or two. And try the drops. They smell so strong but they work really well. I bought an otoscope on Amazon and checked her ears. After chiro and drops the redness went down within the day every single time.  

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@misha552 that’s why started her at 2 weeks old. The stuff of nightmares. colic. My daughter enjoys going to chiro, she’s been going her her life at least once a month so she’s used to it.  

Answer 6

Yes I saw kids at kaschuba They take precautions Everyone has temp taken on hallway Have 2 waiting rooms to make sure people have their 6 feet Very clean

Comments

@latoyalatoye thank you for the rec!  

Answer 7

My son had tubes put in beginning of December by Dr. Caniglia. he’s also a family friend and when i talked to him last week he said they are not doing any elective surgeries like tubes and tonsils. i was pretty surprised by that. so i’m not sure if it’s most ENTs or his practice! i would call around, hope that helps. i know what ur going through, my son has had ear infections even after getting tubes, it’s no fun.  

Comments

Dr caniglia is a fabulous dr.  

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Dr. Caniglia is wonderful. Highly recommend.  

Answer 8

Try a good chiropractor! Also remove dairy. Both things helped me and my children. I had tubes as a child so I understand!  

Answer 9

My surgery center is only doing ear tubes as an emergent procedure. we have cases next week. And it’s mainly to keep that population from having to go to the hospital and further a risk of exposure. There are ENTs open, I would try and call.  

Comments

@underrate108 this is good to know that you so much.  

Answer 10

My son had tubes put in March 19, so early on but still during all of this. We weren’t sure if we should go on with it but it was hands down the best decision. He is so much more comfortable and can sleep through the night for the first time in his life!  

Comments

@junkie I would do tubes today if someone would allow it haha! I’m so sleep deprived and it’s heartbreaking seeing my son so sad night after night. not to mention these antibiotics are destroying his gut big time

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@misha552 absolutely! My son is a year and a half and it has been life changing! Our ENT is Dr Ung with DMG. He’s fantastic!  

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@junkie thank you for the recommendation!  

Answer 11

@misha552 our Peds ent (dr Jones) at Loyola did tubes for a kid in a similar situation last week.  

Comments

@hitoshi I can try to call today ‍♀️

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@misha552 I’m here at work now. I’ll send him a message and see if he answers.  

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@hitoshi oh thank you so much!  

Answer 12

Dr. Amin is seeing kids as needed. She will do a telemedicine appointment first, and then if she thinks an in person visit is necessary they will schedule one.  

Comments

@underrate108 Johnson Shihadeh thank you I plan to call her when they open in a few minutes

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@misha552 Dr Amin is the ENT for both my kids and did my son's tonsilectomy. Highly recommend her!  

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@detainer1 thank you, so good to hear! I had a telemed visit with her this morning already and I was very impressed with how she discussed eveyrthing with me

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@misha552 yes. i felt very comfortable with hr medical knowledge and her bedside manner.  

Answer 13

Kaszuba did both of my boys tubes. I’d do it again in a heartbeat even now. You can’t go through the rest of lock down with him and you being miserable and sleep deprived just take all the precautions to ease your mind about being out. Good luck, I hope he feels better soon!  

Comments

@mages thank you so much! I said it to someone else above but I seriously would get tubes in my son today if I could. I am desperate, and absolutely beyond sick of these oral antibiotics that are not working

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@misha552 kaszuba got us in pretty quick. Have your ped reallllly stress the urgency. Wouldn’t be surprised if he could get to you next week

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Hang in there. I know those sleepless nights are ROUGH!  

Answer 14

We did Laurie same day and it was amazing highly recommend

Comments

@akin I wonder if they r still doing it though with the coronavirus.  

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@misha552 not sure, definitely worth a call. It was a small surgery center so risk would be limited to patients/visitors at that facility not an entire hospital  

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@akin I looked on their website and we don’t quality (he isn’t old enough). but I may call anyways!  

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@misha552 worth a shot! I feel your pain! Zoe was getting them once a month for over a year  it was terrible

Answer 15

So you have a small kiddo. An ENT is and ENT. but the doc putting your kiddo to sleep depends on where you go. With a baby, this would be my greater concern. I would choose to do this at Luries so you know you have the most experienced docs.  

Comments

@multifoliate absolutely agree with you on the experience!  

Answer 16

Thank you all, I have an appointment with dr Amin this afternoon. ❤️

Answer 17

Dr Reddy (ent) said that if a child has fluids in their ears for 3 months, tubes need to be put in. My son had his put in on Wednesday.  

Comments

@pentheas46626 how old is your son if you don’t mind me asking? My son is 5 months so very little but his ears have been bad since January. really most of his life

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@misha552 1 year old. We started noticing fluid in Jan when he was 9 months old. tried two different medicines, nothing worked so tubes. better to see an ENT. I am not sure if they will do tubes on 5 month olds.  

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@pentheas46626 it appears the answer is yes as he has failed antibiotics x3. I’ll have more info this afternoon.  

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@misha552 hope you get some answers and help for your son!  

Answer 18

Heard Dr. Amin is great! Also, before you say yes to surgery, make sure it's really true infection vs just the fluids in ears caused allergic reaction. We canceled the surgery after l did deeper to find out very strong allergy to a dogs. Once allergen removed, issues stopped so no need of surgery.  

Comments

@mccormac1 we have no pets.  

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@misha552 could be allergy to anything else, not just pets

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@mccormac1 thanks! Definitely infected unfortunately