Ear Infections: To Treat or Not to Treat?

Ear infections are one of the most common illnesses of early childhood. Three out of four children have had at least one ear infection by age three. Standard treatment can include antibiotics but in some cases a wait and see approach could take the place of medicine. A study of children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years old found antibiotics did not make a difference in the study participants with symptoms of an ear infection or painful fluid in the ear. Researchers found eventually the problem cleared up on it's own, even for children under two who are most often prescribed medications.

Some ear infections require antibiotics to clear the infection and to prevent them from becoming worse. This is more likely if the child is under age 2, has a fever, is acting sick, or shows no improvement over 24 to 48 hours. However, for several years there was a tendency to over-prescribe antibiotics.

In May 2004, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) jointly released the first national clinical practice guideline on diagnosis and treatment for common ear infections known as Acute otitis media (AOM). The guideline outlines steps for more accurate diagnosis, encouraging pain relief, reducing antibiotic-related adverse effects, and targeting antibiotics for children likely to receive the most benefit from antibiotic treatment. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to an increase of drug resistant bacteria.

Parents should talk with their child's pediatrician about the best options for treatment that could include pain relief medication, antibiotics or varying strengths, or even surgery in chronic cases.

Sources:
 

American Academy of Pediatrics http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/earinfections.cfm