Ear Infections - Medications

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• Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin, generic). This antibiotic is known as an augmented penicillin. It works against a wide spectrum of bacteria and is administered orally.

Second-line treatment for severe AOM:

• Ceftriaxone. Ceftriaxone (Rocephin, generic) is an injectable cephalosporin that may be prescribed as an alternative to amoxicillin-clavulanate, especially for children who have vomiting or other conditions that hamper oral administration.
• Tympanocentesis. Patients with severe AOM who fail to respond to amoxicillin-clavulanate after 48 - 72 hours may require the withdrawal of fluid from the ear (tympanocentesis) in order to identify the bacterial strain causing the infection.

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Side Effects of Antibiotics

• The most common side effects of nearly all antibiotics are gastrointestinal problems, including cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. This can be a significant problem in infants and small children.
• Tetracycline use during pregnancy, infancy, and childhood may lead to enamel defects and discolorations of permanent teeth.
• Allergic reactions can occur with all antibiotics but are most common with medications derived from penicillin or sulfa. These reactions can range from mild skin rashes to rare but severe, even life-threatening, anaphylactic shock.
• Some drugs, including certain over-the-counter medications, interact with antibiotics. Parents should tell the doctor about all medications their child is taking.

Review Date: 05/03/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).