Accumulation of fluid in the ear—and its painful pressure—is one of the most common reasons for children seeing a pediatrician. It's estimated that two-thirds of children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday. "Wait and see" can be the first step. Antibiotics can come next. But there are times when further steps needs to be taken.
In this week's Healthy Kids Minute, Douglas Johnston, a physician at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, walks you through the steps.
They can also eventually develop into meningitis with fatal results. Please get your kids checked out if they have an ear infection, and if they're not getting better, get more tests.— HandNik- Good Point, HandNik. The "wait and see" approach means not starting antibiotics right away with some, but not all, ear infections. It doesn't mean wait and see about seeing the doctor.— Sari Harrar
Here is our growing list of expert contributors:
Stephen Aronoff, M.D., M.B.A., Temple University Hospital
Christopher C. Chang, M.D., Ph.D., Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Jefferson Medical College
Mario Cruz, M.D., Drexel University, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Gary A. Emmett, M.D., Nemours Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Jefferson Medical College
Hazel Guinto-Ocampo, M.D., Bryn Mawr Hospital
Rima Himelstein, M.D., Crozer-Keystone Health System
W. Douglas Tynan, Ph.D., Ph.D., Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Jefferson Medical College
Beth Wallace, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Click on their names for fuller biographies. Questions? Email us at HealthyKids@philly.com
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