African American doctor looking into the ears of a young girl. Antibiotics are often prescribed for ear infections. Some times needlessly. This is part of the reason we have an antibiotic epidemic.
    Ear Infections and the Antibiotic Epidemic

    We?re finding more and more that the prolific prescription of antibiotics is not the panacea it was once thought to be. Not only do antibiotics disrupt healthy digestion, but overuse can even lead to …

    Ear infections are vanishing: four key ideas for parents
    Ear infections are vanishing: four key ideas for parents

    I remember, not long ago, seeing many children with ear infections every day I was in the office ? children that were often up screaming the night before. Today it's not surprising to go an entire day…

    Big News: Reflux and Ear Infections? !!!
    Big News: Reflux and Ear Infections? !!!

    Chronic ear infections are a frustrating problem for many young children. A study published in the February 9, 2002 issue of The Lancet suggests a dramatic new approach to dealing with ear infections.…

    Cotton Swabs and Ear Performations
    Cotton Swabs and Ear Performations

    I heard from a reader about an extremely common practice that most of us have been warned never to do: My wife was cleaning our three-year old daughter's ear with a cotton swab. She turned into the sw…

    Ear Infections and Pacifier Use
    Ear Infections and Pacifier Use

    We've known now for several years that discontinuing the use of a pacifier can reduce ear infections in children. A study published in the September 2000 issue of Pediatrics looked at the effect of si…

    Dangers of Parental Smoking
    Dangers of Parental Smoking

    Dr. Greene's take on parental smoking... (hint: don't do it!) A study in the August 2000 issue of the Archives of Disease in Childhood found that parents who smoke increase the risk of meningococcal m…

    Ear Infections - Predicting Them! Preventing Them?
    Ear Infections – Predicting Them! Preventing Them?

    No one has fun when babies' ears are in pain. Testing a baby's cord blood for levels of maternal antibodies to pneumococcal bacteria can predict the frequency of ear infections. Information presented …

    How Secondhand Smoke Affects Children
    How Secondhand Smoke Affects Children

    The Great American Smokeout is the American Cancer Society's call to stop smoking. We all know that smoking leads to serious health problems for adults, but many people just don't get that being in a …

    Fast Facts about Ear Infections
    Fast Facts about Ear Infections

    Since ear infections are the most common diagnosis in pediatrics, it is worthwhile for a parent to learn to become a Sherlock Holmes -- able to notice the clues and suspect an ear infection before it …