Antibiotics not the right course of action for children’s ear infections
Children with common ear infections should not be given antibiotics, a health watchdog has said.
New draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) says parents should treat the infections with paracetamol or ibuprofen instead.
It comes a few days after the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also warned parents that antibiotics are not suitable for many common conditions.
The Nice guidance relates to acute otitis media – an infection that occurs in the middle ear and is common in children and young people. Evidence from Nice found that about 60 per cent of children will show signs of improvement – such as less pain – within 24 hours, even if they have not taken antibiotics.
Nice said some children may need antibiotics immediately, such as those who are very unwell or have symptoms of a more serious illness.
Children with discharge from the ear caused by a burst ear drum should be offered antibiotics immediately or given a prescription to use if symptoms do not improve, or get worse, within three days.