How is Otitis Media treated?
Otitis Media is treated with antibiotics which are prescribed for a total of up to ten days. The antibiotics must be taken for the total prescribed period, even if symptoms improve or disappear before the medication is finished. Failure to finish the medication may lead to complications of the infection, or may cause the infection to recur. Symptoms should start to improve within 48 hours after starting the antibiotics. Meanwhile, acetaminophen may be given as needed for relief of pain and/or fever, in doses appropriate to the child’s age and weight. If the child is still suffering from symptoms more than 48 hours after antibiotic treatment has started, the antibiotic may have failed. In this case the child should be re-examined to determine if the antibiotic needs to be changed. After the full course of antibiotics, a follow-up examination is necessary in order to make sure that the infection has cleared up completely. Are antibiotics absolutely necessary? The use of antibiotics to tr
