Updating otitis media management
The evolving role of antibiotics and the impact of vaccines
24th January 2012
In this article, we examine the evolving role of antibiotics, the impact of vaccines, the changing complications of acute otitis media and we review the indications for grommets.
What role for antibiotics?
The use of antibiotics in acute otitis media in children over two years of age is controversial due to the high rate of spontaneous symptom resolution.
Only modest benefits have been demonstrated for antibiotic treatment of acute episodes in children aged over two, with estimates of a 5% improvement in symptom resolution at day 2-3.1