Ear Infection News & Features

Researchers studied an app that uses a smartphone's microphone and speaker and a piece of paper to detect fluid behind the eardrum.

The shots are effective in killing the main bacterial cause, but other germs are growing, researchers find

Vaccine that prevents ear infections may have counterbalanced surge in headphone use, expert says

10 days of the medication was twice as effective, study finds

They're the No. 1 reason kids get antibiotics, and finding could point to better treatments, researchers say

Small, preliminary study suggests oxytocin might ease 'ringing in the ears'

One-time application was highly effective in animal trials, but more study needed, researchers say

For kids with a common hearing problem, procedure may be an alternative to antibiotics, drainage tubes

Finds drops may be preferred remedy when special 'ear tubes' are needed

Instead, use antibacterial or antibiotic eardrops, experts advise

Learn the symptoms of ear infections –- and what to do next.

Less antibiotic use, added focus on pain control among key points

Swimmers often regard inflammation of the external ear canal, known as swimmer's ear, as an inevitable, minor nuisance. But a new study finds that the problem adds substantially to health care costs and the number of annual doctor visits.

Small children with ear infections recover better with early antibiotic treatment -- although diarrhea and diaper rash are common side effects.

Cleaner air resulting from federal pollution laws may have significantly reduced the prevalence of ear infections in children, a new study shows.

Earwax provides benefits to the body, helping to clean and lubricate the ear canal, but too much can cause problems. New guidelines strongly advise doctors to clean out excess earwax and check people with hearing aids every three months.

Doctors in Rochester, N.Y., have found a bacterial strain that causes ear infections and resists FDA-approved antibiotics for kids.

Since the 2000 introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine to prevent ear infections in children, a superbug that is resistant to all the antibiotics approved to treat the condition has emerged, researchers report.

Obese children may be more likely to have fluid build-up in the middle part of their ears, a study shows.

The pneumococcal vaccine recommended for all children may reduce frequent ear infections in children, experts write in Pediatrics.

Inventors of a new nasal spray designed to help prevent ear infections in children report promising results in lab tests on mice.

Ear Tubes Not Always Needed

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Hundreds of thousands of toddlers and preschoolers in the U.S. get ear tubes each year, but a landmark study shows that a large number may not need them for the purpose of avoiding future developmental problems.

Most children with ear infections do not need antibiotics, but they get them anyway. Now, a new study suggests parents are often willing to delay treatment if they know their kids can get the drugs if they need them.