How are chronic ear infections frequently treated?
Aside from the common cold, ear infections are the most common childhood illness — requiring approximately 30 million pediatric visits annually. Typically, chronic ear infections are treated with a regimen of antibiotics. Children who take antibiotics may experience a variety of side effects including diarrhea, upset stomach and allergic reactions. (But all too often, antibiotics fail to cure the infections and children may undergo surgery or require frequent use of antibiotics.) If chronic ear infections go untreated, children can suffer from acquired hearing loss.
