More evidence has been published to show that antibiotics not only can pose dangers, but they are not effective in treating the problem. Researchers studied the findings of seven trials comparing antibiotic therapy with placebos in otitis media, an found little evidence to suggest that children given antibiotics had a shorter duration of symptoms fewer recurrences or better long term outcomes. Than those who had received a placebo. The overuse of antibiotic such as happened with children suffering from otitis media has given rise to a breed of super bacteria which are resistant to antibiotics entirely.

Now there’s even evidence that one of the "super bacteria" the penicillin resistant streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP) is actually one of the things that’s causing otitis media in young children. This finding was made by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, M.D. of Stanford University and Joseph B. Robertson Jr., M.D>, and Christina Laane, M.D. of Palo Alto, California. The results of the research were presented at the 101^st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, which was held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco September 7-10, 1997. The meeting was the largest gathering for otolaryngologists (physicians who specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of the ears, nose, throat and related structures of the head and neck)

However, since an estimated 3-4 billion is spent each year for medication and surgery to treat this problem it is unlikely that the medical and drug industries will support either preventive measures or alternative care possibilities.

Source: "Antimicrobials for acute otistis media; A review from the International Primary Care Network". British Medical Journal July 5, 1997.

"Penicillin resistant streptococcus pneumoniae found in chronic otitis media with effusion." American Academy of Otolaryngology Sept. 2, 1997