Not every doctor visit is fun for three year old Bradley Pritchett
especially when Dr. Gilmore finds this:

Dr. Benn Gilmore/Beaumont Hospital - "classic out of the text book."

Ear infections are responsible for more than 31 million office visits each year and lost productivity.

Debbie Polkowski/son has ear infections - "He doesn't sleep well. It's irritable.   I lose time at work. He's uncomfortable."

And many ear infections start in the same place.

Dr. Benn Gilmore/Beaumont Hospital - "they usually start with a cold."

Today, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine reports on a drug that can prevent flu related illness and in turn prevent ear infection. It's a nasal spray called Flumist.

Researchers found the nose spray vaccine provides 93 percent protection against the flu and they also found it provides 96 percent protetion against otitis media  -- commonly known as ear infections.

Dr. Robert Belshe/Flumist Investigator - "By giving this vaccine, we'll see a substantial reduction in otitis media."

If this nose spray gains FDA approval, it could revolutionize the way doctors approach ear infections.  They can focus on prevention instead of treatment.

Marybeth Pritchett/son gets ear infections - "Flumist would be worth trying, if it keeps his ear infection down. It would be worth it."

The pharmaceutical company Aviron is applying for FDA approval this summer. If everything goes according to plan, manufacturers expects to get Flumist on the market by the fall of 1999.

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