Antibiotics curbed for kids' ears

September 15, 2009 THE CANADIAN PRESS

The practice of routinely prescribing antibiotics to kids suffering from an ear infection is coming to a formal end.

The Canadian Paediatric Society today instructed doctors to watch and wait for 48 hours before using antibiotics to treat most ear infections in healthy children over six months of age.

About 95 per cent of the time, an acetaminophen like Tylenol alone works just as well to treat the kind of ear infection that preschoolers with a cold are prone to, said specialist Dr. Joan Robinson in a statement.

She said the main reason for the treatment change is concern about increasing resistance to antibiotics by over-prescribing them.

Toronto Star

Editor's Picks