If your doctor has just told you that your child has a middle ear infection, here is some information to help you:
What is a Middle Ear Infection?
It is an infection in the small space just behind the eardrum. It is common in young children.
Another name for it is Otitis Media. It causes an earache.
A lot of children will have at least one middle ear infection by three years of age.
Middle ear infections can be more common in winter and spring and can occur after a common cold.
Will Antibiotics Help?
Middle ear infections can be due to bacteria or viruses. A lot of the time children recover from the pain within 24 hours without antibiotics. in a lot of cases the child’s own immune system will be able to get rid of infection in a few days.
It is believed that antibiotics do not relieve earache in the first 24 hours of use but may reduce pain thereafter.
Disadvantages of Antibiotics:
Over use of antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of the drug when you really need them.
Antibiotics can also cause unpleasant side effects like skin rashes, vomiting and even diarrhoea. Never give any other persons prescribed medication to yourself or child without first seeking medical advice.
What can we do to help make our children feel better:
If the doctor has examined your child and although the child is unwell, no serious illness has been diagnosed that needs antibiotics,
he or she might ask you to bring the child in again if there is no improvement or if it gets worse. At that time the doctor may give you a prescription for an antibiotic.
Pain relief is the best thing for your child at this stage and Paracetamol or Ibuprofen may be given if the earache recurs.
Remember always follow the correct dosage for your child’s age.
Always contact your doctor before giving an extra dose and if you need to use for more than the prescribed 48-hour period contact the doctor again.
Sometimes there can be persistent deafness that continues after a middle ear infection that your doctor may need to review and follow up until the hearing finally goes back to normal.
PLEASE NOTE: The above is just basic and you should contact your doctor for more information if you have any concerns regarding this condition and treatment. | 
