Jan. 23, 2004: Pediatrician John Cohen

BOSTON -- Pediatrician John Cohen answers viewers' questions on Mid-Day call-in.

My 6-year-old had lots of ear infections. Her doctor wants to use low dose antibiotics. Should we do this?

Interesting question. We will on occasion, especially with smaller children, keep kids on a one teaspoonful a day of amoxicillin through the winter season if they have recurrent ear infections. But this girl is 6. And I asked mother if she snores. And she said, 'Wow, yeah I can hear her from three rooms away.' Does she stop breathing? That is a question mother wasn't sure about. But once you get to 6, using low dose antibiotics may not be the best answer. If this child actually does stop breathing, that is sleep apnea, and that would be part of the reason she gets recurrent ear infections and would probably need to have her adenoids removed.

My 12-year-old will occasionally have coffee. My friends think this is not good. Are they correct?

The issue is that caffeine per se isn't the best thing for any growing brain to have. But point of fact, what do you think is in colas? If we had our druthers, we would like to see those machines removed from schools and have kids drink less caffeine-containing colas and, therefore, an occasional cup of coffee, which is about the same as in a Coke, is probably not as bad as all that. Overall, you should eat less junk.

Should parents worry about giving children the MMR vaccine because of worry over autism?

The fact of the matter is that the study was done years ago and was actually recanted by the doctor that did it. The MMR vaccine is safe and doesn't cause autism and people should pay attention to their doctors.