Ear Infections Going Around

[Christina72684]

I don't know what's going on, but of our 10 kids all under the age of 2yrs, in the past 2 weeks 5 of them have been sick with colds and 3 went to the doctor and found out they had ear infections (all babies). One of our sick 1yr olds had pneumonia and one of my PT workers found out yesterday that she has it too!

Are we not cleaning enough? We always tell the kids to cover their mouths with their elbow and wash their hands all the time, but it's not like you can tell babies to cover their mouths. Is there anything more we can do to stop the ear infections from spreading? I really don't want the other half of the kids getting sick too. It's been nice not having as many kids when they stay home, but when they were all just starting to get sick everyone was so miserable

[SilverSabre25]

ear infections don't spread, colds that cause ear infections spread. There's not much you can do to prevent it.

Sorry so many people are sick!

[TwinKristi]

Yep, I agree, ear infections themselves are not contagious but the virus that is spread IS. No amount of cleaning can prevent a baby from coughing in another one's face or germy saliva particulate in the air. Colds are just easily spread and part of life. Certain viruses like to settle in the lungs, some kids just get an ear infections with every cold they have and they usually end up with tubes because they get multiple ear infections in their first 18mos depending on what season they're born in, siblings, daycare, etc. I've had 2 DCBs who had multiple ear infections and no one else did. My DS is 2-2.5ish who's here as well has never had an ear infection yet 2 other kids have had several.
Your normal cleaning is supposed to be keeping the spread at a minimum. When we had a tummy bug go through recently I closed and cleaned really well. 2 DCKs got it anyway, after we had it, had closed and reopened but both had outside exposure at playgroups, school, siblings, etc. Also, 2 people in my home didn't get sick so exposure doesn't always equal the spread of illness. I would just be very vigilant about wiping down surfaces the kids frequent, washing hands extra, providers using sanitizer more, etc.

[sahm1225]

Yep, I agree, ear infections themselves are not contagious but the virus that is spread IS. No amount of cleaning can prevent a baby from coughing in another one's face or germy saliva particulate in the air. Colds are just easily spread and part of life. Certain viruses like to settle in the lungs, some kids just get an ear infections with every cold they have and they usually end up with tubes because they get multiple ear infections in their first 18mos depending on what season they're born in, siblings, daycare, etc. I've had 2 DCBs who had multiple ear infections and no one else did. My DS is 2-2.5ish who's here as well has never had an ear infection yet 2 other kids have had several.
Your normal cleaning is supposed to be keeping the spread at a minimum. When we had a tummy bug go through recently I closed and cleaned really well. 2 DCKs got it anyway, after we had it, had closed and reopened but both had outside exposure at playgroups, school, siblings, etc. Also, 2 people in my home didn't get sick so exposure doesn't always equal the spread of illness. I would just be very vigilant about wiping down surfaces the kids frequent, washing hands extra, providers using sanitizer more, etc.

Exactly what she said. I had one dcb that until he got tubes put in had ear infections all the time. Then my dd (4) has never had an ear infection. Dcb & dd are always together!