Ear Infections Need Full Course of Antibiotics

February 22nd, 2017

A crying, fussy, sleepy infant—any parent can describe how miserable an infant with an ear infection can be. Three out of four infants will get an ear infection within their first year, making the diagnosis the most common reason infants are prescribed antibiotics. Because of concerns about antibiotic resistance and overuse, Alejandro Hoberman, MD (Jack L. Paradise Professor of Pediatric Research, Pitt School of Medicine), conducted a study to see if shortening the course of antibiotics could treat ear infections as effectively as a longer course. Dr. Hoberman and colleagues found that when treating children between 6 and 23 months of age with antibiotics for ear infections, a shortened course had worse outcomes and did not reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance or side effects. Even if your child seems to be feeling better after a few days, keep in mind that “the benefits of the 10-day regimen greatly outweigh the risks,” according to Dr. Hoberman.