Antibiotics for Ear Infection

Penicillin, sulfonamide, cephalosporin and erythromycin are types of antibiotic medications prescribed to treat ear infections. A health care professional will research all factors to include age and medical history prior to prescribing antibiotics. Some ear infections will subside within a few days without treatment.

Features

• The build-up of bacteria leading to an ear infection is caused by clogged eustachian tubes, which prevents trapped fluid and air from draining.

Frequency

• According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), 75% of children will experience at least on episode of otitis media (ear infection) before their third birthday. Almost half of those children will have three or more recurrences within the same 3-year time frame.

Types

• Acute otitis media (AOM), otitis media with effusion (OME) and otitis externia (swimmer's ear) are the main types of ear infections. AOM is the most common which produces pain, redness and inflammation. Doctors prescribe antibiotics to treat AOM and this treatment is generally effective.

Symptoms

• According to the NIDCD, the most common symptoms include irritability, insomnia, tugging and/or pulling at one or both ears, fever, fluid drainage from ear, loss of balance and hearing difficulties.

Diagnosis

• Doctors use a lighted instrument called an otoscope to look into the internal part of the ear to exam for abnormalities.

Considerations

• Some ear infections are caused by viruses, not bacterial infections. Antibiotics are not effective in treating viral infections and excessive use may lead to antibiotic resistance.