What is usually prescribed for an ear infection, and what is the cost?

Question

This is for something I'm writing, not a real case of ear infection. I don't need any other advice or info about seeing a doctor, taking alternative medicines, etc. Just, specific antibiotics, and specific costs. (And I know costs vary. It doesn't matter. I'm still asking for specific prices- I don't care if they're high end, low end, or middle.)

Answer 1

What kind of ear infection, and what patient?
The middle ear infections seen in preschool kids needn't be treated with antibiotics at all. Most of them go away without treatment, and the difference in symptom relief is minimal. When antibiotics are called for, amoxicillin is generally the drug of choice, and it's on the $4 Wal-Mart list (and a pretty cheap drug, anyway).
Otitis externa is also known as swimmer's ear, and it's treated with drops. Neomycin+polymyxin+hydrocortisone at about $20 is being supplanted by fluoroquinolones like ofloxacin drops at about $60-80 for no particularly good reason other than that insurance usually pays, so what the heck.

Answer 2

The treatment of Otitis Media (ear infection) is evolving, especially in the pediatric age group. Studies have begun to consistently show that the outcome of most patients with otitis media is not altered by antibiotics.Either the majority of the causitive agents are viruses or if bacterial the infection is self limited.

Overprescription of antibiotics is a major contributor to the emergence of multiply resistant organisms, such as MRSA.

Without antibiotics the cost of symptomatic treatment would be negligible.

Answer 3

Amoxicillin is usually prescribed. The cost is low, about five to ten dollars depending on the dosage and amount.