Ear Infection Treatment for Kids: It's Simpler Than You May Think

When your child gets sick, your first instinct maybe to treat whatever ails them with strong medicine quickly and completely. But many doctors think a "wait and see" approach is best when selecting an ear infection treatment. That's because many of these infections resolve naturally when the child's immune system is allowed to fight them. Antibiotics are often successful at treating ear infections too, but using them -- some researchers believe -- can stunt the development of a child's immune system and/or strengthen the resistance of some bacteria to antibiotics. Of course you should never decide to withhold antibiotics from your child without the guidance of a physician. A pediatrician should always play a key role in determining ear infection treatment. There are scenarios when immediate treatment with antibiotics is crucial, and your child's doctor needs to make that decision. In some cases when antibiotics fail to treat the infection, your doctor may ask you to consider ear tube surgery.

Whether he or she decides to forgo antibiotics or prescribe them, you may also need to take additional steps to relieve your child's pain. These include:

If you suspect your child is suffering from an ear infection, make an appointment with your pediatrician. Tell them you'd like to discuss a variety of ear infection treatment options that both include and exclude antibiotics.