Complementary/Integrative Medicine for Pediatric Otitis Media

Complementary/integrative medicine can be used in treating otitis media, especially during the watchful waiting phase. Elimination of risk factors can be important. Products such as echinacea, xylitol, and probiotics may help in prevention. Herbal eardrop formulations can relieve symptoms in some patients. Other modalities such as homeopathy can lead to faster relief of symptoms in combination with conventional therapy. Chinese, Japanese, and other forms of traditional medicine have varying formulations with unclear safety, but initial results are promising. Most studies are limited by methodological failures and small sample sizes, emphasizing the need for continued research in this area.