Ear Infections - Prevention

Possible negative side effects include the following:

Allergic Reaction. Newer vaccines contain very little egg protein, but an allergic reaction still may occur in people with strong allergies to eggs.
Soreness at the Injection Site. Up to two-thirds of people who receive the influenza vaccine develop redness or soreness at the injection site for 1 or 2 days afterward.
Flu-like Symptoms. Other side effects include mild fatigue and muscle aches and pains. They tend to occur between 6 and 12 hours after the vaccination and last up to2 days. These symptoms are not influenza itself but an immune response to the virus proteins in the vaccine. Anyone with a fever, however, should not be vaccinated until the ailment has subsided.

Antiviral Drugs. Antiviral drugs have now been developed to treat influenza. One such drug, oseltamivir (Tamiflu), is approved for use in children age1 yearand older. Studies report significant reduction in symptoms and in the incidence of ear infections with this drug. In another study, when the antiviral drug, zanamivir (Relenza), was administered in the nasal passages of adults with influenza, middle ear abnormalities were reduced from 73 - 32%. This drug is available for children older than 7 years for treatment of influenza, but no research has determined it value for preventing or treating otitis media in children.

Preventing Bacterial Infections

Preventive Antibiotics. Antibiotics have been used to prevent bacterial infections in children with recurrent ear infections (4 or more episodes a year). Studies suggest, however, that overall they only prevent1 episode a year, and are not generally recommended for prevention, except for specific situations.

Pneumococcal Vaccine. The pneumococcal vaccine protects (Prevnar or PCV7) against S. pneumoniae (also called pneumococcal) bacteria, the most common cause of middle ear infections and other respiratory infections. It has now been added to the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule and is also specifically approved for preventing otitis media. An important 2003 study indicated that these vaccinations could result in 1.7 million fewer office visits, 24% fewer procedures for tube implants, and significantly fewer antibiotic prescriptions.

The recommended schedule of immunization is four doses, given at 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months of age. Infants starting immunization between7 and 11 months should have three doses. (Parents should be sure their infants receive their second and third doses by 6 months in order to achieve on-going protection from ear infections.) Children starting their vaccinations between 12 and 23 months only need two doses. Those who are over 2years old need only one dose.