Medications
Antibiotics can
treat
ear infections. But most children with ear infections
get better without them. If the care you give at home relieves pain, and a
child's symptoms are getting better after a few days, you may not need
antibiotics.
In the United States, many doctors use antibiotics
for middle ear infections in children younger than age 2. This is often because
children this young are at higher risk for
complications. For children ages 2 and older, many
doctors wait for a few days to see if the ear infection will get better on its
own. When doctors do prescribe antibiotics, they most often use amoxicillin
(Amoxil) because it works well and costs less than other brands.
Should I give my child antibiotics for an ear infection?
Experts suggest a hearing test if a child has had fluid
behind his or her eardrum longer than 3 months. Normal hearing is critical
during the first 2 years when your child is learning to talk. Your doctor may
prescribe antibiotics to help clear the fluid. But that usually doesn't help.
The doctor may also suggest placing tubes in the ears to drain fluid and
improve hearing.
Should I have my child treated for chronic fluid behind the eardrum?
Other medicines that can treat symptoms of ear infection
include:
- Acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol) and
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (for example,
Advil, Motrin, and Aleve), for pain and fever. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 because of its link to
Reye syndrome, a serious illness that needs emergency
care.
- Pain medicines such as codeine and some eardrops, which
help with severe earache. But do not use eardrops if the eardrum is
ruptured. For more information, see
the safest way to insert eardrops
. - Sometimes corticosteroids,
known as steroids, are given with antibiotics to get rid of fluid behind the
eardrum (otitis media with effusion). Steroids are not a
good choice for treating otitis media. Do not use steroids if a child has been
around someone with chickenpox within the last 3 weeks.
Decongestants, antihistamines, expectorants, and other
over-the-counter cold remedies usually do not work
well for treating or preventing ear infections. Antihistamines that may make
your child sleepy can thicken fluids and may actually make your child feel
worse. Check with the doctor before giving these medicines to your child.
Experts say not to give decongestants to children younger than 2.
Medication Choices
- Antibiotics may help cure ear
infections caused by bacteria.
What To Think About
Some doctors prefer to treat all
ear infections with antibiotics. Some things to consider before your child
takes antibiotics include:
- Risk for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The
greatest problem with using antibiotics to treat ear infections is the
possibility of creating bacteria that can't be killed by the usual antibiotics
(antibiotic-resistant bacteria). Using antibiotics only
when they're needed can slow down this process.
- Side effects of
antibiotics. Mild side effects, such as diarrhea and rash, from taking
antibiotics are common. Severe side effects are rare.
- Cost. Most
antibiotics are expensive. You may want to weigh the cost against the fact that
most ear infections clear up without treatment.
If your child still has symptoms (fever and earache)
longer than 48 hours after starting an antibiotic, a different antibiotic may
work better. Call your doctor if your child isn't feeling better after 2 days
of antibiotic treatment.