{"id":"fce507f28df99e82744ec9eae8de13ad","slug":"can-i-give-my-5-year-old-ibuprofen-if-theyre-taking-antibiotics-for-an-ear-infection","question":"Can I give my 5 year old ibuprofen if they're taking antibiotics for an ear infection?","answer":"Yes, ibuprofen is safe to give alongside antibiotics for an ear infection. In fact, ibuprofen is particularly effective for ear infection pain and the inflammation that comes with it — it's often a better choice than acetaminophen for this specific situation.\n\nThe key is using the correct dose for your child's weight and spacing doses properly to avoid accidental overdosing. Most side effects from ibuprofen are rare and tend to come from dosing mistakes rather than the medication itself. Occasional stomach upset can happen, so giving it with food is a practical approach.\n\nSince your child is uncomfortable with an ear infection, treating that pain makes sense — unlike fever alone, which your child's body is using to fight the infection, ear pain genuinely needs relief. Stick with ibuprofen or acetaminophen (not both alternated together), and check with your pediatrician about the exact dose that's right for your 5-year-old's weight if you're unsure.","sources":"[{\"pmid\":\"33883005\",\"title\":\"Prescribing patterns, indications and adverse events of ibuprofen in children: results from a national survey among Italian pediatricians.\",\"journal\":\"Italian journal of pediatrics\",\"year\":\"2021\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33883005/\",\"score\":0.81},{\"pmid\":\"27458064\",\"title\":\"Ibuprofen in paediatrics: pharmacology, prescribing and controversies.\",\"journal\":\"Archives of disease in childhood. Education and practice edition\",\"year\":\"2016\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27458064/\",\"score\":0.79}]","thread_json":null,"topic":"fever-medication-safety","view_count":0,"created_at":"2026-09-30T23:00:21.275Z"}