An earful of overtreatment
By the age of three, statistics show that at least three out of four children have suffered at least one ear infection. And just as likely they were given an antibiotic to treat it.
But your kid's pediatrician may have jumped the gun.
In 80 to 90 percent of these cases, any ear infection will clear up on its own. And while a recent survey showed that the vast majority of doctors believe that a wait- and-see approach works in theory, in only 15 percent of cases did they wait and see.
With what may be the best of intentions, docs are inadvertently causing these young patients a whole new crop of problems.
To begin with are the side effects. Diarrhea (which can become an issue all of its own by threatening dehydration) and other stomach ailments such as nausea and a sick stomach. And what are essentially misguided good intentions could actually set off an unending cycle of recurring ear infections due to antibiotic resistance.
In the defense of pediatrician's everywhere, they do have some challenges when it comes to diagnosing. Generally, they're treating little people who can't speak. When a baby is crying, it's hard to know if it's due to an ear infection or because the baby is terrified of the doctor looking in his ear.
Also, while the doc is trying to look into the tiny ear canal of a usually anything- but-patient patient, he's trying to figure out if that's an infection he's seeing, or just fluid that has built up. This is not an infection, and any fluid build-up and resulting inflammation will clear up on its own, given time.
There are many parents who don't think twice about filling an antibiotic prescription for their child. Why would they? Everyone they know is handed one for their child, so they don't tend to question if it's the right treatment.
Doctors should take the time to educate harried parents and counsel them on the appropriateness of a wait-and-see approach.
After all, the statistics heavily bear this out: with 80 to 90 percent of cases clearing up on their own, there's no good reason to risk the side effects of—and continued growing resistance to—antibiotics. Antibiotics also disturb the normal balance between healthy and harmful gut bacteria. This can have adverse effects on an individual's immune system over time. This is an excellent reason to refrain from antibiotic overuse in children.
