Antibiotics for Ear Infections in Children: When you need them—and when you don’t.

Many children get ear infections. The infections are usually in the middle ear behind the eardrum. They may be caused by bacteria or by a virus. Health care providers often treat bacterial infections with antibiotics. Antibiotics are strong medications that kill bacteria.

Infants and some children do need antibiotics. But using antibiotics when they are not needed can be harmful.