Can I Prevent My Child's Ear Infections

We are developing a new vaccine against the germ that causes most ear infections in children. This germ is called pneumococcus . We are inviting infants and children to be part of a study to see if this vaccine is effective.

Although there is already a very safe vaccine against the pneumococcus germ, this vaccine is only effective in adults. It is not effective in young children, in whom ear infections are more common and more serious.

It is important to develop a pneumococcal vaccine for children. In addition to ear infections, the pneumococcus germ causes more serious but less common infections such as meningitis (a life-threatening brain infection) and dangerous blood infections. So a pneumococcus vaccine for children should help prevent more serious diseases than ear infections alone. 

Why should I worry about ear infections?

Most parents know that ear infections are one of the most common health problems in young children. Ear infections are the number one reason that children need antibiotic medicine. They are painful for the child, usually change behavior, and often mean that the child must stay home. Days are lost from school or day care, and parents lose days from work to care for their sick children.

Unfortunately, some children have many ear infections. These children may have fluid in their middle ear for many months and will have difficulty hearing. Although hearing loss may not be permanent, it may delay speech and language development. In addition, ear infections occasionally lead to life-threatening illness.

Can I tell if my child is likely to get many ear infections?

Unfortunately, until we have an effective vaccine, most children will get at least one ear infection. And some children will get many ear infections. Your child is likely to suffer from recurring ear infections if he:

• is in day care during the first year of life
• had an ear infection before 3 months of age
• had an ear infection that involved both ears
• had fluid in the middle ear that lasted longer than 4 weeks
• has brothers or sisters who get ear infections
• comes in contact with smokers at home
  

How are ear infections treated?

Children with ear infections are usually given antibiotic medicine, and in 9 out of 10 cases, the child will get better. Unfortunately, some children will continue to get ear infections even though antibiotic medicine is give. In addition, the antibiotics can cause diarrhea and skin rashes. If your child has many ear infections, the antibiotics may not work as well because the germs may become resistant. Antibiotics are also costly, ranging from $5 to $50, depending on your health insurance.

Are there alternatives to antibiotics?

Children with recurring ear infections are often treated with a daily dose of antibiotic. However, antibiotics do not prevent infections caused by resistant types of bacteria.

When a child continues to have many ear infections or has fluid in the middle ear for a long time, the doctor and parent may decide that ear tubes should be placed. These small plastic tubes are inserted in the eardrum by a surgeon. Although they can improve hearing, they often need to be replaced, and sometimes cause infection themselves.

Ideally, ear infections should be prevented early in life. Unfortunately, there is often nothing parents can do to prevent them. An effective vaccine, however, would protect children from ear infections and would greatly improve their health.