Also, teach them not to put things in their mouth or ears. Knowing you can help relieve your child's pain can be a comfort. Avoiding bacterial resistance Antibiotics are often prescribed for children who get middle-ear infections. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics reports that giving children antibiotics too often or unnecessarily can be harmful and increase their risk of infections caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics. As a result, doctors are being very careful to prescribe antibiotics only when necessary.
Antibiotics are only effective for treating bacterial infections.
They should never be used to treat common viral infections such as colds To protect your child, do not insist on antibiotics. Use them only when the doctor has determined they may be effective. We recommend that you use Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator , versions 4.0 or higher. Copyright 2001 Kaiser Permanente. Please read our disclaimer and privacy statement .