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Kids With Ear Infections Recover Without Antibiotics

Children treated with 3% hydrogen peroxide, this seems safe even if the ear is slightly perforated, resolves the nearly immediately for more on this see: Cold remedies that really work.

Reported June 6, 2005

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston shows children with non-severe ear infections can recover without antibiotics.

Specifically, 66 percent of children with non-severe ear infections who were given pain medication and monitored by their parents recovered without prescriptions.

The success of the watchful waiting approach is welcome news for doctors who are looking to stop the overuse of antibiotics, which has bred new strains of bacteria that are more difficult to kill.

For the investigation, doctors were provided guidelines with specific criteria for diagnosing the severity of the ear infection. After all, this treatment approach is only meant for children with infections that are not severe.

After evaluating the degree of the infection, doctors gave parents information about the risks and benefits of a non-antibiotic treatment regimen. The parents were also shown how to manage their child's pain and how to recognize signs of the infection getting worse. In addition, parents had 24-hour phone access to doctors who could prescribe an antibiotic or suggest another doctor's visit if necessary.

The study included 223 children between ages 6 months and 12 years in the study. Some were randomly selected for watchful waiting, while the others received immediate treatment of antibiotics.

Children treated immediately with antibiotics did recover faster; however, after 10 days of treatment, bacteria from their nose were more likely to be drug resistant.

"This study is an exclamation mark on the importance of doctors being proactive about this issue of antibiotic resistance," says lead study author David McCormick, M.D. "And it's proof that parents will accept a non-antibiotic approach if they're provided with education and allowed to help make the decision."

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: www.ivanhoe.com.

SOURCE: Pediatrics, 2005;115:1455-1465