Ear infections usually require a trip to the pediatrician and some antibiotics. But now the America Academy of Pediatrics is revising their guidelines for treating ear infections in children.
Doctors now suggest parents simply wait and watch to see if the infection goes away in three days. Parents can treat the pain with Ibuprofen.
The reason behind the decision is to stop the overuse of antibiotics, which can lead to creating a strand of bacteria that is resistant to the medicine.
So how do you know if your kid has a serious ear infection? If you can answer yes to one of the following questions, you should probably go to the doctor:
- High fever
- Significant pain
- Ruptured ear drum with drainage
- Both ears are infected (for kids two years old or younger)
Breastfeeding for at least four months and not exposing your child to second-hand smoke can reduce the risk of ear infections, the study also notes.