Antibiotics often unnecessary for kids' ear infections*

The #1 reason that kids get antibiotics, costing the country $2.8 billion a year, is ear infections.

A new analysis shows that this is completely unnecessary in most cases.
80 out of 100 children with ear infections are shown to get better on their own in only about three days. Prescribing antibiotics improves that rate slightly, to 92 out of 100.

The side effects of antibiotics are another reason to avoid them.
3-10 children will develop a medication related rash and 5-10 more will get diarrhea.

Overuse of antibiotics can cause more severe problems, encouraging the growth of hardier, drug-resistant bacteria.

Many say that it's not always easy to avoid antibiotics. Alot of day care centers will not allow kids with fevers to come in and doctors are pushed to treat when not always necessary.

Richard Rosenfeld, professor and chair of Otolaryngology at Long Island College Hospital in New York, says the best relief for ear infections is a bedtime dose of over the counter ibuprofen.

What are some ways to reduce ear infections?:

* Breast feed babies for 6 months or more.

* Don't smoke. Protect children from secondhand smoke.

* Don't allow babies to use a pacifier after 18 months.

* Use fewer antibiotics, to discourage the growth of resistant bacteria.

Source: Richard Rosenfeld, Long Island College Hospital

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