Acute otitis media in children. Are antibiotics always appropriate?
A recent analysis of the evidence suggests that, in Western countries the use of antibiotics as initial treatment for children with acute otitis media benefits one out of 20 children by reducing pain in the acute phase. There is no evident benefit for deafness, recurrent attacks or complications. This suggests that we should use antibiotics less readily.
Del Mar
C
C
Centre for General Practice, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Queensland.
Glasziou
P
P
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003638:Deafness / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents