Antibiotics only help with some ear infections

20 October 2006

Doctors often prescribe antibiotics for ear infections in children, but a new study suggests only the very youngest and sickest reap any benefits from the treatment.

According to a team of Dutch researchers, children under the age of 2 who have infections in both ears are helped by antibiotics. For most children, however, the condition simply resolves itself.

The report appears in the 21 October issue of The Lancet.

The condition known as otitis media occurs when the middle ear, behind the eardrum, becomes infected. One of the most common childhood infections, the condition causes pain and fever.

In the study, Dr Maroeska Rovers, from the University Medical Center Utrecht, and colleagues collected data on six studies that included a total of 1,643 children.

Rovers' team found the benefit of antibiotics for pain and fever was dependent on the child's age, extent of the infection, and also the presence of otorrhoea (discharge from the ear). The greatest benefit was seen in children under 2 who had infection in both ears.

For older children, the use of antibiotics was usually no more effective than waiting for the condition to get better by itself. However, antibiotics did help children with otorrhoea, irrespective of age.

Source: HealthDay
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