Antibiotics Not Needed for Ear Infections

Antibiotics Not Needed for Ear Infections

When a child gets an ear infection, most of the time doctors prescribe antibiotics, but a new study suggests the drugs aren't needed at all. A study published in the journal of the American Medical Association asked parents to use a wait-and-see approach.

Dr. Max April, Lenox Hill Hospital: "They actually gave the parents a prescription and told them to hold on to it for 48 hours, and if the child's getting worse, fill the prescription. 38% of the people did fill the prescription, 62% did not."

Doctors say most of the children got better on their own. Experts say the study is significant because it's important to cut down on the number of antibiotics being prescribed. Overuse can lead to treatment resistant infections, meaning antibiotics would no longer work.

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Antibiotics Not Needed for Ear Infections

Antibiotics Not Needed for Ear Infections

When a child gets an ear infection, most of the time doctors prescribe antibiotics, but a new study suggests the drugs aren't needed at all. A study published in the journal of the American Medical Association asked parents to use a wait-and-see approach.

Dr. Max April, Lenox Hill Hospital: "They actually gave the parents a prescription and told them to hold on to it for 48 hours, and if the child's getting worse, fill the prescription. 38% of the people did fill the prescription, 62% did not."

Doctors say most of the children got better on their own. Experts say the study is significant because it's important to cut down on the number of antibiotics being prescribed. Overuse can lead to treatment resistant infections, meaning antibiotics would no longer work.

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