Ear infections - how long do you keep your kid home?

Erilu907

R has her first ear infection, and I'm on my way home to take over for dH and will pick up the numbing drops and antibiotics on the way. How long do you keep your kid home when they have an ear infection? She's home from day care today, and provided she feels better with the drops and meds and sleeps better tonight, would you send her to day care tomorrow? ETA: I will probably call the pedi this afternoon to ask this question also.

Chrisy-Wyobride

My DD#2 came home from school yesterday at 2pm from one.  I just got back from the Doctor.  I asked her if they were contagious & she said No (despite the fact that 4 of 5 of my family members have had one this week).  DD#2 is probably viral because she already felt better today & she did not have much of a cold or anything prior--She had no fever at all...though colds I **think** may be contagious & DD#1, #3 & DH all had one.  Anyway the Docs gave DD#1, DD#3 & my DH antibiotics but the NP we saw today did not prescribe anything for DD#2.  So I plan on sending her to school tomorrow--I'll probably give her some children's advil prior but that's it.  

todds_wife

Yep, IF she slept well and was acting like she felt good, and didn't have a fever. - which is often the case when Coop has an ear infection.  If he feels good, he goes to DC.  Ear infections aren't contagious - (doesn't mean that other funk going on with the LO isn't contagious, but if it is just an ear infection and he is feeling well and sans fever, DC says he is a ok to come on in.)

Kmac-06

Once she is fever-free without meds for 24 hours, and she has been taking the antibiotics for 24 hours, I would send her in.

andrealynn0707

In my vast experience of exactly one EI, I say 24 hours of antibiotics and no fever.

ELCJet

I'm terrible....as soon as DS gets antibiotics in his system and his fever (if there was one) was gone, he'd be back in daycare.  The way his teacher put it, he can either be miserable with me at home or miserable with her at school.....well, he was never THAT miserable, but it saved my sick days for the "bad" illnesses.  (And all the other ear infection appointments!)

Erilu907

I called daycare and they said the policy is usually 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotics and no fever. But seeing as she hasn't had a fever since last night and her first dose was around noon, they said they'd take her (provided she's still feeling ok). 

Thanks for weighing in!

Temp885953375007054

DS didn't miss daycare at all when he had his last one (perforated ear drum & infection). Granted, he is a great baby and wasn't at all upset about it - we didn't even know he had it and the Dr. found it at his 4 month checkup.