read my new blog on family webicine on the new guidelines for treating ear infections in children. most children with middle ear problems improve by age six so you have two more years. i don't know if he is a candidate for tubes or not but middle ear fluid lasting more than three months is very problematic. he may need to see an ent specialist at this point. he is likely in pre-school or pre-k where he is being exposed. keeping him home would reduce his exposure to other children with colds but the benefits of preschool outweigh this risk. never smoke around a child. if he has allergies try and get them controlled. hopefully he is immunized against pneumococcal disease and influenza - the new treatment guidelines stress the vaccines as a preventative.
how to prevent ear infections in toddlers? . my 4 year old son keeps getting ear infections after a bout of cold. he has been on antibiotics every month for the past 3-4 months.