2006年VOA标准英语-New Findings About Treating Childhood Ear Infec

By Carol Pearson
Washington, DC
18 September 2006
 
watch Ear Ache Recommendations

One of the most common childhood illnesses is ear infection.  The standard treatment is a prescription¹ for an antibiotic².  But now a new study suggests a safer alternative. 

 
There's no doubt ear infections are painful.  Here is why: when the middle ear becomes infected, it becomes red and swollen³.

Doctors frequently prescribe an antibiotic, but a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows they may not have to.

 
Joseph Gigante

Dr. Joseph Gigante of Vanderbilt Children's Hospital explains. "About 75 to 80 percent of kids who have ear infections will get better without antibiotic treatment."

Dr. David Spiro at Oregon Health and Science University was one of the researchers who conducted the study.  "Antibiotics⁴ do have side effects such as vomiting⁵ and diarrhea, and overprescription leads to an increase in resistance of bacteria."

 
David Spiro
In the study, parents of children with ear infections were given a prescription for antibiotics.

Half of them were told to get the medication immediately.  The other half were told to wait two days before filling the prescription.

To reduce the children's fever and pain, parents gave them ibuprofen and ear drops.

Dr. Phil Fischer at the Mayo Clinic says parents and pediatricians will be interested to hear the news. "One of the most exciting things about this study is that it can make parents more comfortable not giving antibiotics for ear infections."

Doctors have long said it is best to save antibiotics for when children and adults really need them. 

This study should make it easier to adhere to that principle.

1 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

2 antibiotic   

adj.抗菌的；n.抗生素

参考例句：

• The doctor said that I should take some antibiotic.医生说我应该服些用抗生素。
• Antibiotic can be used against infection.抗菌素可以用来防止感染。

3 swollen   

adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀

参考例句：

• Her legs had got swollen from standing up all day.因为整天站着，她的双腿已经肿了。
• A mosquito had bitten her and her arm had swollen up.蚊子叮了她，她的手臂肿起来了。

4 antibiotics   

n.（用作复数）抗生素；（用作单数）抗生物质的研究；抗生素，抗菌素( antibiotic的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century 20世纪抗生素的发现
• The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics. 医生给我开了抗生素。

5 vomiting   

吐

参考例句：

• Symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting. 症状有腹泻和呕吐。
• Especially when I feel seasick, I can't stand watching someone else vomiting." 尤其晕船的时候，看不得人家呕。”