Many antibiotics are prescribed to help ear infections, but antibiotics for ear infections come with risks. It is vital that you understand the risks before deciding which antibiotics are best for your situation. This article will go over five aspects to understand antibiotics and how they work.
What They Treat
The first step in understanding how antibiotics for ear infection work is knowing what they are used to treat. Antibiotics are often prescribed as a treatment for acute otitis media (AOM). AOM is an inflammation or fluid build-up in the middle ear caused by an upper respiratory tract infection that usually comes from the nose and throat. Many other types of antibiotics can be used to treat this condition, including amoxicillin, cefuroxime axetil, erythromycin, and clindamycin.
How They Work
These antibiotics work by stopping the growth of bacteria. They do this by disrupting cell walls, which are needed for bacterial survival. Antibiotics are effective against certain types of bacteria only, and antibiotics may not be able to kill every single one that is causing your ear infection.
When Not To Use Them
Antibiotics should never be used in cases where there is no bacterial infection or when antibiotics are not needed, such as for an earache caused by a virus. This medicine can also cause side effects like rashes and diarrhea, so it’s essential to speak with your doctor before using them on children under the age of three.
What You Should Know About Your Dosage
Dosages are an important part of treatment, and it’s important to give antibiotics for ear infections on time so they can work correctly. Any delay in the medicine may increase the risk of bacterial resistance, where antibiotics will lose their effectiveness against bacteria, so antibiotics should be taken even if you feel better or have no symptoms.
Side Effects
As with any medication, antibiotics can cause side effects. You may experience stomach cramps or diarrhea when taking antibiotics for an ear infection, so it’s important to speak with your pharmacist about what you should do if this happens. You will also need to take care while traveling and make sure that all members of the family are on antibiotics for the entire course of antibiotics. If you believe that antibiotics are not suited to you or your child, we encourage you to speak with a pharmacist about alternative treatment options and seek medical attention immediately if symptoms worsen. Antibiotics can be prescribed in pharmacies by qualified pharmacists who have completed additional training on antibiotics use.
To conclude, antibiotics are essential to treat ear infections, but it is important to complete the full course of the medication.