Help is at hand for parents worried about children’s ear infections

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 20, 2009 -- Around 200,0001 children suffer from repeated ear infections or glue ear each year in the UK. Although the majority of ear infections clear up naturally, there is a danger that potentially more serious cases are being overlooked and, whilst rare, the bacteria that cause ear infections can lead to complications such as pneumonia and meningitis. Where the conditions cause hearing loss because the middle ear becomes filled with fluid, younger children in particular can have problems with language development and speech.

The leaflet is full of practical tips and guidance and contains the latest medical thinking on these conditions, describing the range of possible symptoms, current treatments and ways in which parents can support their child and prevent further problems. Historically, incidences of children’s ear infections in the UK reach a peak between January and March approximately, which is why Deafness Research UK is publishing its leaflet now.

With good knowledge, parents can do much to help their child and so Deafness Research UK’s new leaflet is being circulated to 6,000 GP surgeries in January, and can also be obtained directly from Deafness Research UK, telephone 0808 808 2222 or email info@deafnessresearch.org.uk

Vivienne Michael, chief executive of Deafness Research UK, said: “Part of the problem is that parents lack knowledge about what to do if their child has recurring or persistent ear problems. It is important parents should be aware that antibiotics only help a small proportion of children with ear infections, and are not recommended at all in the treatment of glue ear.”

Ian Williamson, adviser to Deafness Research UK, senior lecturer in General Practice at Southampton University and a practising GP, said: “The NHS needs to adopt a more holistic approach to ear conditions; there is a general problem whereby antibiotics are being prescribed needlessly for children’s ear conditions in many cases. Ear conditions and their root causes are not necessarily best tackled by antibiotics. We are concerned that time pressure on the NHS – combined with a deeply held cultural myth by the public that antibiotics are a cure-all - means that many children and parents aren’t receiving the best advice possible on how to treat and prevent ear infections.”

Overuse of antibiotics encourages antibiotic resistance and can reduce children’s ability to fight further infection in the future. ‘Good’ bacteria often present naturally in the throat, nose and stomach may protect against infections of many types.

”We are particularly concerned about children with repeat ear infections; these children need to be identified for special attention and may suffer developmentally if the root causes of their ear problems are not addressed at an early stage,” added Ian Williamson.