Thursday, May 18, 2006
Contrary To What Allopaths Tell Your Patients -- Ear Tubes Do Not Help
Contrary To What Allopaths Tell Your Patients -- Ear Tubes Do Not Help
(Children with persistent ear infections and fluid in the ear often have draining tubes placed in their ears, based on concerns that the ear problems may lead to long-term hearing, speech, behavioral and intellectual impairments. But it appears that children who get the tubes immediately don't have an advantage compared with those who wait up to nine months to have the surgery.
Compared to children with chronic fluid in their ears who received ear tubes without delay, children who did not have tubes inserted immediately scored just as well at age three on tests of speech, hearing, language, mental abilities, parent-child stress and behavior, researchers report The New England Journal of Medicine 2001;344:1179-1195,1241-1242)
Ear Infection Antibiotics Overprescribed
Experts say the routine use of antibiotics against pediatric ear infections produces little health benefit while contributing to the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. The article evaluated the results of seven different studies conducted over the past 30 years. They found that while antibiotics were linked to short-term decreases in the duration of pain or fever in patients in a few (but not all) of the studies, no long-term (more than six weeks) benefits are reported. All seven studies concluded that children recovered from ear infections at roughly similar rates, regardless of type of treatment.
The authors believe the frequent use of antibiotics for common ear infections raises risks that children will harbor drug-resistant bacteria during subsequent illness. They point out that children whose previous ear infections were treated with antibiotics have a rate of Ampicillin (amoxicillin)-resistant bacteria that is three times higher during subsequent otitis media episodes In extreme cases, deaths from drug-resistant meningitis have been linked to built-up antibiotic resistance traced to previous treatment for ear infection.
The experts advocate that except in severe, recurrent cases, infants and toddlers with ear infections should be initially treated with 'symptom-relieving' drugs such as Acetaminophen and nasal decongestants. If symptoms persist past three days, antibiotics can be considered at that time. JAMA November 26,1997;278(20):1643-1645
(Children with persistent ear infections and fluid in the ear often have draining tubes placed in their ears, based on concerns that the ear problems may lead to long-term hearing, speech, behavioral and intellectual impairments. But it appears that children who get the tubes immediately don't have an advantage compared with those who wait up to nine months to have the surgery.
Compared to children with chronic fluid in their ears who received ear tubes without delay, children who did not have tubes inserted immediately scored just as well at age three on tests of speech, hearing, language, mental abilities, parent-child stress and behavior, researchers report The New England Journal of Medicine 2001;344:1179-1195,1241-1242)
Ear Infection Antibiotics Overprescribed
Experts say the routine use of antibiotics against pediatric ear infections produces little health benefit while contributing to the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. The article evaluated the results of seven different studies conducted over the past 30 years. They found that while antibiotics were linked to short-term decreases in the duration of pain or fever in patients in a few (but not all) of the studies, no long-term (more than six weeks) benefits are reported. All seven studies concluded that children recovered from ear infections at roughly similar rates, regardless of type of treatment.
The authors believe the frequent use of antibiotics for common ear infections raises risks that children will harbor drug-resistant bacteria during subsequent illness. They point out that children whose previous ear infections were treated with antibiotics have a rate of Ampicillin (amoxicillin)-resistant bacteria that is three times higher during subsequent otitis media episodes In extreme cases, deaths from drug-resistant meningitis have been linked to built-up antibiotic resistance traced to previous treatment for ear infection.
The experts advocate that except in severe, recurrent cases, infants and toddlers with ear infections should be initially treated with 'symptom-relieving' drugs such as Acetaminophen and nasal decongestants. If symptoms persist past three days, antibiotics can be considered at that time. JAMA November 26,1997;278(20):1643-1645
