Expert: Dr Kondekar Santosh Venketraman Pediatrician MD, Mumbai India, Online Pediatrician - 11/5/2009

Question
Hi, my daughter is 10 months old and has allergies and has had three ear infections so far.  She always seems to grab at her ears and put her head down like it hurts or that her ears hurt.  She pulls her ears all the time.  Sometimes I can see yellowish wax on the outside of her ears and when I clean that out, its gross.  Her doctor said she might just produce lots of wax, but I seem to think maybe her ears are not draining properly.  Everytime I take her to the doctor to check her ears, he says they look great, but she continues to grab and pull at them.  She is walking now and sometimes seems to really be off balance.  I know that just beginning her balance is not that great, but sometimes she falls and stumbles more than others.  Also, could her symptoms be related to her sinuses.  She has allergies, and when they act up her eyes get red and puffy, her voice sometimes gets hoarse, she sneezes all the time and her nose runs clear.  She does have eczema as well.  She has never had any breathing problems except when she was two months old she had a respitory infection.  She also has been diagnosed with acid reflux (GERD) and is taking Zantac three times a day and has been on thickened formula since she was 2 months old.  She also is on a prescription formula (Neocate) because she threw up the milk based and soy based formulas.  I think she has pretty much outgrown the reflux, but I go to her GI doctor next week to discuss coming off that medication.  Any suggestions.  I am thinking about taking her to an ear, nose, and throat specialist, but I don't want them to think I am nuts if nothing is wrong with her.  I just have this feeling there is something bothering her ears.  She does have four teeth on top and 2 on the bottom, but she has had those.  

Thanks,

Kelly

Answer
well as she seems tyo grow out fo GERd, you may sure decdie about tapering the meds. also the skin allergy is difficult component to solve, it depends on hwo frequent the lesions are there and whetehr skin is too dry.
you may switch over to complementary feeds as formula is not compulsory beyond 8 montsh age. preferably start with small spoon feeding. denition doesnts eme abnormal. banging ehad and pulling ears without amu much irritability at rest is often sen at this age. its at times a part fo knowing the body parts. if you find any redness , tender spot ro discharge around rear or inside, she may need an ENT check. most skin allergy kids may develop other allergic mirbidities like say rhinitis and wheeze. a careful watch and proper control over allergy will help prevent worsening symptoms.