Most children with middle ear infections will not benefit from courses of antibiotic treatment, according to University of Queensland researchers.
In a paper published this week in the British Medical Journal, the researchers say parents and their doctors should concentrate on providing treatment for the symptoms of infections like ear ache by using pain relievers such as paracetamol.
Professor Chris Del Mar, Dr Paul Glasziou and Mauricio Hayem from the Centre for General Practice at the University of Queensland reviewed and collated the results of every published trial of the use of antibiotics against placebos to treat middle ear infections.
Professor Del Mar said they found antibiotics had no effect on the temporary deafness caused by middle ear infection, and only helped shorten the illness of a minority of children one in seven - whose ear pain continues after 48 hours.
"This means only one child out of 17 with a middle ear infection will get any benefit, from treatment with antibiotics" Professor Del Mar said.
"The finding is significant because middle ear infection is very prevalent during childhood with almost all children having at least one attack. It is one of the most common reasons for doctors to prescribe antibiotics."
Professor Del Mar said the study was likely to make doctors rethink the way they treated middle ear infections.
"It is well known that the use of antibiotics as a first treatment for children has many disadvantages because it doubles the risk of diarrhoea, rashes and thrush" he said.
"Many doctors and their patients may now be reluctant to use antibiotics as the initial treatment because of the limited benefits."
Professor Del Mar said middle ear infections had caused potentially serious complications in the past, but this was now very rare in developed or western countries.
The study noted the wide differences in the rate at which doctors prescribed antibiotics for middle ear infection in western nations. It was low in countries such as the Netherlands and in Scandinavia, but high in Britain, America and Australia.
For more information, contact Professor Del Mar (pager telephone 07 3830 4149). Professor Del Mar can be contacted via this number in Townsville pm Thursday 22/5/97 and Friday am/pm 23/5/97). He can be reached in Brisbane from am Saturday 24/5/97 tel h/07 3870 4145.
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