Antibiotics for Ear Infections are bad for you

Here's something to keep in mind the next time your child has an ear infection and you're tempted to ask the doctor for some antibiotics: A new study found that kids who took antibiotics to treat acute ear infections appeared to be more likely to end up having more ear infections down the road.

Ear infections are one of the most common childhood ailments and doctors have long been concerned that antibiotics are overused for the condition because many kids would probably get better without them. The concern is that the overuse of antibiotics is leading to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant infections.

For the new study, Maroeska Rovers of the University Medical Center Utrecht in The Netherlands and colleagues surveyed parents of 168 Dutch children ages six months to two years who had participated in a study evaluating antibiotics for ear infections in 53 general medical practices.

Over the next three and a half years, 47 of the 75 children who had received the antibiotic amoxicillin had suffered at least one recurrence of an ear infection, compared to only 37 out of 86 children who had received a placebo. 

The researchers say the reason could be that the antibiotics somehow weaken the child's natural immune system response to the infection, making them more vulnerable to infections later on. Another explanation is that the antibiotics may change the makeup of microbes that exist in the child's respiratory system, making them more vulnerable to bugs that make them sick.

In any event, the findings provide more evidence why doctors should try to use antibiotics as sparingly as possible, the researchers say.

Treating the ear-itation

If you have swimmer's ear, there are some simple treatments to help clear it up and prevent it from getting worse. But, you'll need to see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and perhaps medication.

Your doctor will check your inner and outer ear to find out the extent of the problem. He or she may suction out any fluid or debris that is present and take a close look at your eardrum to make sure it's not damaged.

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotic eardrops. These work well and cause fewer side effects than oral medications. If your ears do not feel better after three or four days using these drops, let your doctor know.

Oral antibiotics are sometimes needed to treat swimmer's ear. You might need them if you have diabetes (which can impair your ability to fight infection) or you have a temperature higher than 101 degrees F or other signs of advanced infection.

Eardrops containing corticosteroids also work quickly to ease the pain and itchiness of swimmer's ear. Hold the bottle in your hands for a few minutes to warm the drops before putting them in your sensitive ear. To help the drops swish around throughout the infected areas, tug on your earlobe while you insert them.

To relieve the pain, use pain relievers (such as aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen) as needed. But don't give aspirin to anyone younger than 20. It can increase the risk for Reye's syndrome, a rare brain and liver inflammation. Check with your doctor before taking anything over-the-counter if you take any other medications or have any medical problems.

Avoid swimming until all the symptoms have cleared up.