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MEDIA RELEASE
2
December 2009
Ear infections in children don't always need antibiotics
Ear infections are common in children under the age of six, but they will often clear up on their
own without antibiotics, say Dr Peter Morris and Dr Amanda Leach of the Menzies School of
Health Research in Darwin, writing in the December edition of Australian Prescriber.
While children with these symptoms should be taken to a GP for diagnosis, parents should not
be concerned if the doctor does not prescribe antibiotics or suggests they wait and see what
happens before having a script dispensed.
“Most children will experience at least one ear infection during their early years. The symptoms
include pain and sometimes fever, and occasionally hearing loss or ear discharge,” the authors
write.
“Rather than taking antibiotics straight away, children may be given pain relief medicine. Pain
will usually subside within one or two days, in which case antibiotics would not be needed.”
“Parents should be advised by the GP of the likely course of the illness and what symptoms to
look out for. In some cases, such as babies, antibiotics will be necessary, but most ear
infections will get better without specific treatment,” the authors conclude.
Media enquiries to Katie Butt, NPS Media Adviser, 02 8217 8667 or kbutt@nps.org.au
Australian Prescriber is an independent peer-reviewed journal providing critical commentary on
therapeutic topics for health professionals, particularly doctors in general practice. It is published by the
National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS), an independent, not-for-profit organisation for quality use of
medicines funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Australian Prescriber
is distributed every two months in hard copy to health professionals, free of charge, and online in full text
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