Ear Infection Rx (When to use, when to skip antibiotics)
Prevention Magazine 1/06
Now a study makes it clear: The routine use of antibiotics for ear infections is a bad idea. In a head-to-head comparison, researchers treated 223 children, ages 6 months to 12 years, with either antibiotics or watchful waiting, and got nearly identical cure rates for those 2 years and older. The watchful waiting kids needed more pain reliever, but when checked 30 days later, the antibiotic group harbored twice as many multidrug-resistant bacteria in their noses. Drug resistant bacteria may make later infections harder to treat.
The watchful waiting group didn’t miss any more school or day care days than the drug group; parents didn’t miss more work; and parents in both groups were equally satisfied.
A 2003 survey found that 60% of parents were willing to try watchful waiting, but that only 6% of doctors suggested it regularly. Doctors are trained to “do something” and not wait for the body to heal itself. In 2004 the American Academy of Pediatrics (finally) endorsed watchful waiting for non-severe ear infections for kids over 2 years old.
Watchful waiting isn’t right for severe infections. Check your child for temperature (over 102.2), energy level, and changes in eating and drinking patterns before you call the doctor. Treat the pain with ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or numbing eardrops, and be aware of rising fever or increasing pain.
How to prevent earaches: breastfeed if possible; avoid second-hand smoke; limit pacifier time; consider the flu vaccine “Prevnar” that also can help babies 6 months and older.
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