Panel 7: otitis media: treatment and complications

Anne G.M. Schilder, Tal Marom, Mahmood F. Bhutta, Margaretha L. Casselbrant, Harvey Coates, Marie Gisselsson-Solén, Amanda J. Hall, Paola Marchisio, Aino Ruohola, Roderick P. Venekamp, Ellen M. Mandel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to summarize key articles published between 2011 and 2015 on the treatment of (recurrent) acute otitis media, otitis media with effusion, tympanostomy tube otorrhea, chronic suppurative otitis media and complications of otitis media, and their implications for clinical practice.

Data Sources: PubMed, Ovid Medline, the Cochrane Library, and Clinical Evidence (BMJ Publishing).

Review Methods: All types of articles related to otitis media treatment and complications between June 2011 and March 2015 were identified. A total of 1122 potential related articles were reviewed by the panel members; 118 relevant articles were ultimately included in this summary.

Conclusions: Recent literature and guidelines emphasize accurate diagnosis of acute otitis media and optimal management of ear pain. Watchful waiting is optional in mild to moderate acute otitis media; antibiotics do shorten symptoms and duration of middle ear effusion. The additive benefit of adenoidectomy to tympanostomy tubes in recurrent acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion is controversial and age dependent. Topical antibiotic is the treatment of choice in acute tube otorrhea. Symptomatic hearing loss due to persistent otitis media with effusion is best treated with tympanostomy tubes. Novel molecular and biomaterial treatments as adjuvants to surgical closure of eardrum perforations seem promising. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of complementary and alternative treatments.

Implications for Practice: Emphasis on accurate diagnosis of otitis media, in its various forms, is important to reduce overdiagnosis, overtreatment, and antibiotic resistance. Children at risk for otitis media and its complications deserve special attention.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S88-S105
Number of pages28
JournalOtolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Volume156
Issue numberSuppl.4
Early online date3 Apr 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Apr 2017

Bibliographical note

Schilder, A. G. M., Marom, T., Bhutta, M. F., Casselbrant, M. L., Coates, H., Gisselsson-Solén, M., Hall, A. J., Marchisio, P., Ruohola, A., Venekamp, R. P. & Mandel, E. M., Panel 7: otitis media: treatment and complications, Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (156, Suppl.4) pp. S88-S105. Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation). Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0194599816633697

Research Conference Report from the 18th International Conference on Recent Advances in Otitis Media.

Keywords

  • otitis
  • otitis media
  • otorrhea
  • tympanostomy tube
  • adenoidectomy
  • perforation
  • guidelines
  • mastoiditis

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