Symptomatic treatment versus symptomatic treatment with antibiotics for children with acute otitis media: A randomized clinical trial

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine- Assiut University, Egypt.

2 Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine- Assiut University, Egypt

3 Otorhinolaryngology Department , Students Hospital, Assiut University, Egypt

Abstract

Introduction: Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common infections affecting children. Around 60% of children have had at least one episode of AOM by the age of  4 years. It is also one of the main reasons for antibiotic prescription in children. Many studies have shown that the majority of cases of pediatric AOM resolve spontaneously without antibiotics. Undue use of antibiotics is considered one of the leading causes of antibiotic resistance. Besides the added cost, antibiotics also have their inherited risk of side effects, including vomiting, diarrhea, and rash.
Methods: A randomized clinical trial on 102 children-normal kids- aged 2-12 years with AOM to compare the results of using symptomatic treatment only with those using both symptomatic treatment plus antibiotic.
Results: On the 3rd day of treatment, there was statistically significant better control of pain and fever in the antibiotic group. There was no statistically significant difference by the 8th day of treatment. Tympanometric findings by the end of the 3rd week were very much similar in both groups. No complications of AOM or side effects of drugs under study were reported.
Conclusion: Immediate antibiotic use to treat children with AOM who are otherwise normal may provide one or 2 days of earlier control of ear pain and fever in some children. A few days later –by the 8th day- the effect of symptomatic treatment and symptomatic treatment plus antibiotic was similar with no increased incidence of complications.
 

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