Dr. Greene’s Answer:
I’m glad you have an appointment today. When kids get sick that often, it is wise to look into why. Allergies are a common reason for repeated infections. About 1/3 of kids with chronic ear infections, for instance, have an underlying allergy as the cause. Allergy testing may make good sense.
Environmental toxins — most notably second-hand smoke — cause many infections. About 2 million ear infections alone are caused directly by second-hand smoke each year in the US.
Some kids do have underlying immune problems, such as an IgG subclass deficiency, which can be treated if found. Ask your doctor if it is time to look into things like this.
Also, he may have missed out on the Prevnar (pneumococcal) vaccine because of his age. This prevents the most common bacterial causes of respiratory infections including ear infections, sinus infections, and pneumonia. He may be a candidate for the vaccine now.