Ear Infections: Why Antibiotics Aren’t Always the Answer

Middle ear infections are one of the most common of all childhood infections. Half of all children will have a middle ear infection by their first birthday. But did you know that not every ear infection needs to be treated with antibiotics?

Parents have long been used to the idea of treating every ear infection their child experiences with an antibiotic. However, many ear infections are caused by a virus. Viruses are the most common cause of colds and other upper respiratory infections, which may precede an ear infection, and antibiotics will not help an infection caused by a virus to get better.

Symptoms of Ear Infections

• Ear pain, pulling or rubbing on the ear
• Fussiness
• Fever
• Headache
• Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
• Loss of hearing

Your child’s doctor may recommend waiting two or three days to see if symptoms go away on their own without antibiotics. If a doctor does recommend antibiotics, it is very important to take that medicine until it is completely gone, even though the child may seem to be better after a day or two. Using all antibiotics as prescribed will help prevent the infection from returning and also help prevent bacteria from becoming resistant. Resistant bacteria cannot be killed by common antibiotics.

Preventing Ear Infections

You can help reduce the risk of ear infections in your child by doing the following:

• Keep your child away from cigarette smoke. Ear infections are more common in children exposed to cigarette smoke.
• Avoid having your child go outside when air is polluted.
• Hold your child upright when feeding from a bottle. Children who are bottle fed while lying flat are more prone to ear infections.
• Consider stopping pacifier use.
• Avoid sending your children to day care if possible, or enroll your child in a daycare with small class sizes.
• Keep up on your children’s immunizations.

Learn more about Middle Ear Infections in children.

About the Author

Primary Children's Hospital

Primary Children’s Hospital ranks among the best children's hospitals. Located in scenic Utah, everything in our hospital is focused on providing the best care for children. For more than 90 years, we have been committed to helping children, families, and communities across the western United States.

http://primarychildrens.org

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