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Published on: January 12, 2018

Panel 7: Treatment and comparative effectiveness research

Paola Marchisio1, Tasnee Chonmaitree, Eugene Leibovitz

  • 1Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan and Fondazione IRCCS, Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. paola.marchisio@unimi.it

Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery : Official Journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
|March 29, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Antibiotic treatment shows benefits for acute otitis media (AOM) in young children. For otitis media with effusion (OME), adenoidectomy offers no significant advantage over tympanostomy tubes for chronic cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Otolaryngology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

  • Otitis media (OM) is a common childhood infection frequently treated with antibiotics.
  • Recent years have seen increased debate and uncertainty surrounding optimal OM treatment strategies.
  • This review addresses current knowledge and future directions in managing various forms of OM.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current state of knowledge on treating acute otitis media (AOM), otitis media with effusion (OME), and chronic suppurative otitis media.
  • To identify and outline promising areas for future research in OM treatment.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Database, and Clinical Evidence.
  • Articles published in English between January 2007 and June 2011 focusing on OM treatment were identified.
  • A panel reviewed 286 articles, ultimately selecting 114 high-quality studies for summarization.

Main Results:

  • New evidence supports antibiotic therapy over observation for AOM in young children diagnosed with strict criteria.
  • In chronic OME, adenoidectomy showed no statistically significant benefit compared to tympanostomy tube insertion alone in younger children.
  • Various other treatment modalities for OM were also examined and are discussed.

Conclusions:

  • Substantial advancements have been made in understanding OM treatment.
  • Key areas requiring further investigation have been identified to improve patient outcomes.

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