Ask Dr. Hallberg: Children, ear infections and antibiotics

Dr. Jon Hallberg
Dr. Jon Hallberg, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Medical Director at the University of Minnesota. He is a regular medical analyst on MPR's All Things Considered.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Jon Hallberg

For years, we've heard warnings about antibiotics being over-prescribed, but new findings in the New England Journal of Medicine recommend just that when dealing with middle ear infections in young children.

An editorial in the journal said the studies provided "the best data yet" that antibiotics are the best treatment for otitis media.

Dr. Jon Hallberg joined All Things Considered host Tom Crann to talk about these findings, and how they differ from the way doctors have been treating middle ear infections.

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