Treating ear infections

The firstline treatment for children with otitis media with effusion (a middle ear infection with fluid behind the ear drum) is antibiotics. Many children with this condition are also treated with antihistamines, to decrease swelling of the eustachian tube, and decongestants to "loosen up" the fluid in the middle ear behind the ear drum. A recent review of the medical literature found no support for the use of these two drugs. Eleven percent of the children using antihistamines and/or decongestants experienced side effects such as stomach upset and drowsiness.

"Because we found no benefit for any of the studied interventions [using antihistamines or decongestants] for any of the outcomes measured and we found harm from the side effects of the interventions, we recommend that practitioners not use antihistamines, decongestants, or antihistamine/ decongestant combinations to treat otitis media with effusion in children," said Dr. Glenn Griffin, the lead researcher. The American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery have all made the same recommendation.

The use of these drugs had no effect on being cured within one month, lessening hearing loss, risk of recurrence of otitis media with effusion, development of otitis media without effusion, and the need for tympanostomy tubes (ear tubes).

Sometimes less is best. That's the situation with using antihistamines and decongestants in treating otitis media with effusion.

Pediatric News, 11/06

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