Ear infections may clear without antibiotics

Most ear infections in children do not even require antibiotics, according to the new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

According to the study children with common ear infections recovered at the same rate as the ones who were put on prescribed antibiotic medication.

The study conducted at the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland was led by the Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Dr. David Spiro.

The study examined records of 238 children aged between 6 months to 12 years ailing from ear infections. It segregated the patients in two categories. “One half of the children in our study received a wait-and-see prescription for an antibiotic, and the other half received a prescription and the parents were told to fill it immediately” stated Dr. David Spiro. All children were administered ibuprofen and analgesic drops.

The results showed that out of the half of the parents who were prescribed with the wait and watch policy for their kids two third did not ultimately require antibiotics.

The remaining one third parents in the wait and watch category started antibiotic medication as their children developed minor problems like fever and ear ache.

On the other hand, the parents who were advised immediate prescription for their children, nine out of ten ended up taking antibiotics.

On an average 15 million prescriptions are issued annually recommending antibiotics. This study promises same recovery time in kids without developing reliance or resistance of antibiotics.

Based on calculated figures, the study advocates ristricted usage of antibiotics as its overdose is known to develop antibiotic-resistant bacteria along with other side effects like vomiting and diarrhea in children.