Ear Infections & Antibiotics:
When to Prescribe
-
Ear infections in children don't clear any faster with
antibiotics than with pain-relieving ear drops, says a new
study.
The study, led by Hasbro Children's Hospital pediatric
fellow Paul Matz, MD, suggests antibiotics may be overprescribed for
the common childhood illness.
"The study indicates that antibiotics may not be needed
in many of the 20 to 25 million ear-infection cases seen in the
United States annually," said Matz, MD. "Many parents
expect an antibiotic will be prescribed for a child with an ear
infection. This unspoken pressure to prescribe is
considered a major factor in the potential overuse of
antibiotics."
Overuse of antibiotics is cited as a significant reason for
the increasing resistance worldwide among many bacterial
strains, he said.
"We can tell parents that their children don't need
antibiotics all the time for ear infections," said Matz.
"In selected cases, use of ear drops may prevent
overprescription of antibiotics, while satisfying parental
desires for treatment."
Typically, simple pain relief will make a childhood ear
infection better, Matz said. In fact, standard care for ear
infections, known medically as acute otitis media, includes use
of pain relief medications such as acetaminophen.
When should a child get antibiotics? 
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