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Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Get the Compare Your Your Quiz Your Summary A middle ear infection, also called otitis media, is inflammation or infection of the middle ear. Ear infections often occur along with a cold or other upper respiratory infections. Almost all children have at least one ear infection before age 7. Most ear infections are caused by bacteria. But viruses also can cause them. The influenza (flu) virus is one of the main viruses that cause ear infections. Ear infections are most common in young children, because young children have shorter eustachian tubes, which are more easily blocked than those of older children and adults. When the tube is blocked, fluid builds up. This creates a breeding ground for germs. Pus forms as the body tries to fight the infection. More fluid collects and pushes against the eardrum, causing pain and sometimes a temporary loss of hearing. Fever lasts about 1 to 2 days. Most children have some pain on and off for up to 4 days. Young children may have pain that comes and goes for up to 9 days. If your child has an ear infection, your child may: Most parents will know that these symptoms point to an ear infection after their children have had a couple of ear infections. But a visit to the doctor is the only way to know for sure. Your child's doctor can diagnose an infection by looking at your child's ears with a tool called an otoscope. Antibiotics work most of the time to treat ear infections caused by bacteria. But they won't treat ear infections caused by viruses. No matter what causes the infection, most children 6 months and older won't need antibiotics. Up to 80 out of 100 ear infections get better on their own, while 20 out of 100 don't.footnote 2 You can help ease your child's pain at home, whether you use antibiotics or wait for the ear infection to get better on its own. You can: Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics if a child:footnote 1 Compare What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. My daughter, Biba, is a wonderfully robust 4-year-old. When she complained of an earache after a cold, we visited our doctor. She told us the ear infection would probably go away on its own, so I decided not to fill the prescription my doctor gave me then. The doctor said to give Biba pain relief medicine for the next few days and if she didn't improve in 2 days that I should fill the prescription and have Biba take the antibiotics. Biba stayed home from school for 1 day, but she felt better the next. Best of all, she didn't have to take antibiotics. Maureen, age 33 My son, Rashad, has had so many ear infections. He really suffers with them. When the doctor said that I could wait to see if it would clear up, I thought that he would probably need antibiotics anyway, so why wait? Renee, age 35 I am very concerned about bacteria that are not affected by antibiotics. My friend's child had to take very strong antibiotics to cure his ear infection. When my son, Maury, got an ear infection, I waited to see if he would improve. But he still had an earache after 2 days, so I decided to go ahead and have him take antibiotics. Briana, age 41 I am a working single mother with three kids. I don't have time to stay home and see if my son, Darrell, will get better. I need the fastest and most certain cure. So I decided he should take the antibiotics now. Cecelia, age 22 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to give your child antibiotics Reasons to wait and see I'm not worried about the risk of side effects from antibiotics. I'm worried that my child could have side effects from antibiotics. I want to get my child's infection taken care of now. I'm willing to wait a couple of days for the infection to go away on its own. I'm not concerned that using antibiotics a lot could make them not work in the future. I'm concerned that antibiotics might not work in the future if my child uses them a lot. I can afford antibiotics. I don't want to spend money on medicine my child may not need. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Using antibiotics Waiting Check the facts Decide what's next Certainty 1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. A middle ear infection, also called otitis media, is inflammation or infection of the middle ear. Ear infections often occur along with a cold or other upper respiratory infections. Almost all children have at least one ear infection before age 7. Most ear infections are caused by bacteria. But viruses also can cause them. The influenza (flu) virus is one of the main viruses that cause ear infections. Ear infections are most common in young children, because young children have shorter eustachian tubes, which are more easily blocked than those of older children and adults. When the tube is blocked, fluid builds up. This creates a breeding ground for germs. Pus forms as the body tries to fight the infection. More fluid collects and pushes against the eardrum, causing pain and sometimes a temporary loss of hearing. Fever lasts about 1 to 2 days. Most children have some pain on and off for up to 4 days. Young children may have pain that comes and goes for up to 9 days. If your child has an ear infection, your child may: Most parents will know that these symptoms point to an ear infection after their children have had a couple of ear infections. But a visit to the doctor is the only way to know for sure. Your child's doctor can diagnose an infection by looking at your child's ears with a tool called an otoscope. Antibiotics work most of the time to treat ear infections caused by bacteria. But they won't treat ear infections caused by viruses. No matter what causes the infection, most children 6 months and older won't need antibiotics. Up to 80 out of 100 ear infections get better on their own, while 20 out of 100 don't.2 You can help ease your child's pain at home, whether you use antibiotics or wait for the ear infection to get better on its own. You can: Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics if a child:1 These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. "My daughter, Biba, is a wonderfully robust 4-year-old. When she complained of an earache after a cold, we visited our doctor. She told us the ear infection would probably go away on its own, so I decided not to fill the prescription my doctor gave me then. The doctor said to give Biba pain relief medicine for the next few days and if she didn't improve in 2 days that I should fill the prescription and have Biba take the antibiotics. Biba stayed home from school for 1 day, but she felt better the next. Best of all, she didn't have to take antibiotics." — Maureen, age 33 "My son, Rashad, has had so many ear infections. He really suffers with them. When the doctor said that I could wait to see if it would clear up, I thought that he would probably need antibiotics anyway, so why wait?" — Renee, age 35 "I am very concerned about bacteria that are not affected by antibiotics. My friend's child had to take very strong antibiotics to cure his ear infection. When my son, Maury, got an ear infection, I waited to see if he would improve. But he still had an earache after 2 days, so I decided to go ahead and have him take antibiotics." — Briana, age 41 "I am a working single mother with three kids. I don't have time to stay home and see if my son, Darrell, will get better. I need the fastest and most certain cure. So I decided he should take the antibiotics now." — Cecelia, age 22 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to give your child antibiotics Reasons to wait and see I'm not worried about the risk of side effects from antibiotics. I'm worried that my child could have side effects from antibiotics. I want to get my child's infection taken care of now. I'm willing to wait a couple of days for the infection to go away on its own. I'm not concerned that using antibiotics a lot could make them not work in the future. I'm concerned that antibiotics might not work in the future if my child uses them a lot. I can afford antibiotics. I don't want to spend money on medicine my child may not need. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Using antibiotics Waiting 1.
Should all children get antibiotics for an ear infection? 2.
Do antibiotics relieve ear pain immediately? 3.
Can antibiotics have bothersome side effects? 1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? 1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Current as of: September 27, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review BoardEar Infection: Should I Give My Child Antibiotics?
Ear Infection: Should I Give My Child Antibiotics?
1
Facts2
Options3
Feelings4
Decision5
Yourself6
Get the facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is a middle ear infection?
How can you tell if your child has an ear infection?
How well do antibiotics clear up ear infections?
How can you treat your child's ear infection at home?
Why might your doctor recommend antibiotics for an ear infection?
Compare your options
Personal stories from parents whose children had ear infections
What matters most to you?
Where are you leaning now?
What else do you need to make your decision?
Your Summary
Your decision
Next steps
Which way you're leaning
How sure you are
Your comments
Your knowledge of the facts
Key concepts that you understood
Key concepts that may need review
Getting ready to act
Patient choices
Credits and References
Author Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.Ear Infection: Should I Give My Child Antibiotics?
1. Get the Facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is a middle ear infection?
How can you tell if your child has an ear infection?
How well do antibiotics clear up ear infections?
How can you treat your child's ear infection at home?
Why might your doctor recommend antibiotics for an ear infection?
2. Compare your options
Give your child antibiotics Wait and see What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? Personal stories
Personal stories from parents whose children had ear infections
3. What matters most to you?
4. Where are you leaning now?
5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
Decide what's next
Certainty
By Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.