Ear Infections

The first treatment of a middle ear infection focuses on relieving pain. The doctor will also assess your child for any risk of Reference complications.

If your child's condition improves in the first couple of days, treating the symptoms at home may be all that is needed. For more information, see Reference Home Treatment.

If your child isn't better after a couple of days of home treatment, call your doctor. He or she may prescribe antibiotics.

Follow-up exams with a doctor are important to check for persistent infection, fluid behind the eardrum Reference (otitis media with effusion) Opens New Window, or repeat infections. Even if your child seems well, he or she may need a follow-up visit in about 4 weeks, especially if your child is young.

Antibiotics

Your doctor can give your child Reference antibiotics, but ear infections often get better without them. Talk about this with your doctor. Whether you use antibiotics will depend on how old your child is and how bad the infection is. For more information, see Reference Medications.

If your child has Reference cochlear implants, your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics, because serious complications of ear infections, including bacterial meningitis, are more common in children who have cochlear implants than in children who do not have cochlear implants.

Opens New Window Ear Infection: Should I Give My Child Antibiotics? Opens New Window

Repeat ear infections

If a child has repeat ear infections (three or more ear infections in a 6-month period or four in 1 year), you may want to consider treatment to prevent future infections.

One option that has been used a lot in the past is long-term oral antibiotic treatment. There is debate within the medical community about using antibiotics on a long-term basis to prevent ear infections. Many doctors don't want to prescribe long-term antibiotics, because they are not sure that they really work. Also, when antibiotics are used too often, bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics.

Having tubes put in the ears is another option for treating repeat ear infections.

Fluid buildup and hearing problems

Fluid behind the eardrum after an ear infection is normal. And in most children, the fluid clears up within 3 months without treatment. If your child has fluid buildup without infection, you may try watchful waiting.

Have your child's hearing tested if the fluid lasts longer than 3 months. If hearing is normal, you may choose to keep watching your child without treatment.

If a child has fluid behind the eardrum for more than 3 months and has significant Reference hearing problems, then treatment is needed. Sometimes short-term hearing loss occurs, which is especially a concern in children ages 2 and younger. Normal hearing is very important when young children are learning to talk.

If your child is younger than 2, your doctor may not wait 3 months to start treatment. Hearing problems at this age could affect your child's speaking ability. This is also why children in this age group are closely watched when they have ear infections.

If there is a hearing problem, your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to help clear the fluid. The doctor might also suggest placing tubes in the ears to drain the fluid and improve hearing.

Opens New Window Ear Problems: Should My Child Be Treated for Fluid Buildup in the Middle Ear? Opens New Window

Surgery

Doctors may consider surgery for children who have repeat ear infections or for those who have persistent fluid behind the eardrum. Procedures include inserting ear tubes or removing Reference adenoids Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window and, in rare cases, the tonsils. For more information, see Reference Surgery.

Treating other problems

Children who get rare but serious problems from ear infections, such as infection in the tissues around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) or infection in the bone behind the ear (mastoiditis), need treatment right away.

© 1995-2011, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.