Ear infections can make your infant uncomfortable for days. Doctors use antibiotics to treat some types of ear infections, but not all. Using antibiotics can prevent some rare complication such as spreading of the infection to surrounding tissue or to the brain. However, excessive or unnecessary use can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are a serious problem in modern health care.
Ear Infections
Your infant's ear has an immature eustachian tube that is shorter and more prone to bacterial or viral infection than that of an older child or an adult. This tube is responsible for draining fluids and if it gets blocked, can cause fluid buildup that's prone to bacterial or viral infection. The apparent signs of an ear infection in your child are frequent crying, touching of the ear and irritable mood. However, if your child is less than 1 year old and is pulling her ear without showing other signs of infection, this can be a sign of teething and not an infection, according to Dr. William Sears, an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine.
Bacterial vs. Viral
Ear infections can be cause by bacteria or virus -- the difference is that viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics. Using antibiotics to treat viral infections is pointless and can promote the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a result, many doctors won't prescribe antibiotics unless there are signs that recommend it such as fever, a child who does not improve within 24 to 48 hours or a child who appears very sick. Nonetheless, according to MedlinePlus, ear infections in children younger than 6 months are always treated with antibiotics.
Antibiotic Resistance
Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics due to excessive use. Although some bacteria will be killed by the antibiotics, those not killed may evolve mechanisms to survive the drug. The more you use antibiotics, the more likely it is that some bacteria may survive to become resistant. If your child's ear infection has not improved within 48 to 72 hours with the use of a simple antibiotic such as amoxicillin, there is a possibility that the bacteria are resistant to that antibiotic and the infection must be treated with a different or a stronger antibiotic.
Alternative Treatment
Some bacterial ear infections go away on their own without the use of antibiotics. According to Dr. Sears, 80 percent of uncomplicated ear infections resolve within four to seven days without antibiotics. This is because your child's immune system can fight the infection without the help of antibiotics. Care for ear infections at home by applying a warm cloth to the infected ear, using pain relief drops or giving fever or pain medications as recommended by your doctor. If your child's ear has pus draining out of the ear, do not use ear drops.
