We have located links that may give you full text access.
Journal Article
Review
Antibiotics for acute otitis media in children.
BACKGROUND: Acute otitis media is one of the most common diseases in early infancy and childhood. Antibiotic use for acute otitis media varies from 31% in the Netherlands to 98% in the USA and Australia.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of antibiotics for children with acute otitis media.
SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, MEDLINE, Index Medicus (pre 1965), Current Contents and reference lists of articles from 1958 to January 2000.
SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials comparing antimicrobial drugs with placebo in children with acute otitis media.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Three reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data.
MAIN RESULTS: Ten trials were eligible but only seven trials, with a total of 2,202 children, included patient-relevant outcomes. The methodological quality of the included trials was generally high. All trials were from developed countries. The trials showed no reduction in pain at 24 hours, but a 28% relative reduction (95% confidence interval 15% to 38%) in pain at two to seven days. Since approximately 80% of patients will have settled spontaneously in this time, this means an absolute reduction of 5% or that about 17 children must be treated with antibiotics to prevent one child having some pain after two days. There was no effect of antibiotics on hearing problems of acute otitis media, as measured by subsequent tympanometry. However, audiometry was done in only two studies and incompletely reported. Nor did antibiotics influence other complications or recurrence. There were few serious complications seen in these trials: only one case of mastoiditis occurred in a penicillin treated group.
REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotics provide a small benefit for acute otitis media in children. As most cases will resolve spontaneously, this benefit must be weighed against the possible adverse reactions. Antibiotic treatment may play an important role in reducing the risk of mastoiditis in populations where it is more common. [This abstract has been prepared centrally.]
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of antibiotics for children with acute otitis media.
SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, MEDLINE, Index Medicus (pre 1965), Current Contents and reference lists of articles from 1958 to January 2000.
SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials comparing antimicrobial drugs with placebo in children with acute otitis media.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Three reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data.
MAIN RESULTS: Ten trials were eligible but only seven trials, with a total of 2,202 children, included patient-relevant outcomes. The methodological quality of the included trials was generally high. All trials were from developed countries. The trials showed no reduction in pain at 24 hours, but a 28% relative reduction (95% confidence interval 15% to 38%) in pain at two to seven days. Since approximately 80% of patients will have settled spontaneously in this time, this means an absolute reduction of 5% or that about 17 children must be treated with antibiotics to prevent one child having some pain after two days. There was no effect of antibiotics on hearing problems of acute otitis media, as measured by subsequent tympanometry. However, audiometry was done in only two studies and incompletely reported. Nor did antibiotics influence other complications or recurrence. There were few serious complications seen in these trials: only one case of mastoiditis occurred in a penicillin treated group.
REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotics provide a small benefit for acute otitis media in children. As most cases will resolve spontaneously, this benefit must be weighed against the possible adverse reactions. Antibiotic treatment may play an important role in reducing the risk of mastoiditis in populations where it is more common. [This abstract has been prepared centrally.]
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Challenges in Septic Shock: From New Hemodynamics to Blood Purification Therapies.Journal of Personalized Medicine 2024 Februrary 4
Molecular Targets of Novel Therapeutics for Diabetic Kidney Disease: A New Era of Nephroprotection.International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024 April 4
The 'Ten Commandments' for the 2023 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of endocarditis.European Heart Journal 2024 April 18
A Guide to the Use of Vasopressors and Inotropes for Patients in Shock.Journal of Intensive Care Medicine 2024 April 14
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app