Antibiotics for Ear Infections: Not the Right Answer? One of the
most common infections children experience is acute otitis media
(AOM), which affects the middle ear, and is often associated
with a buildup of fluid that causes pain and swelling. While
many doctors will prescribe antibiotics to treat AOM, some
health care providers believe using antibiotics too frequently
can lead to drug-resistant bacteria. As a result, some doctors
choose to let an AOM infection run its course and don't
prescribe antibiotics unless they're absolutely necessary. This
may be good thinking; in fact, the results of a recent study
suggest not providing antibiotics may be just as effective in
the overall treatment of AOM. In the study, over 200 children
with AOM were randomized into two groups. Both groups received
medication to treat the pain associated with AOM, but only one
group received a course of antibiotics. Over a 30-day period,
doctors then examined the children in both groups to determine
whether the infection had resol