title: Antibiotics for nasopharyngitis are associated with a lower risk of office-based physician visit for acute otitis media within 14 days for 3- to 6-year-old children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to analyse factors potentially influencing children's return visits to physicians for symptoms of acute otitis media (AOM) within 14 days after being diagnosed with nasopharyngitis (NP), and the impact of recent antibiotic use.
  
  
  METHODS
  A controlled population-based pharmaco-epidemiological trial in 3- to 6-year-old children conducted from January to May 2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three different geographical regions in France.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 2507 eligible children, 2456 could be analysed and 505 children had 634 office-based physician visits (OBPV) for NP symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The statistical associations between antibiotics prescribed for NP and an OBPV for AOM within 14 days in a population-based study were analysed along with risk factors of AOM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical events and antibiotic use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 2 weeks following physician-diagnosed NP, antibiotic use, especially a beta-lactam, significantly decreased the risk of OBPV for AOM in children (odds ratio=0.2; 95% confidence interval=0.09-0.7; P=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antibiotics prescribed to children for NP seem to protect during the following 2 weeks against the risk of OBPV for AOM. It remains to be determined whether a subgroup at high risk of developing AOM after a viral infection exists and what might be the best strategy to adopt for NP in a national programme of optimal antibiotic use.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U657, Paris, France. jsalomon@pasteur.fr
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sommet
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernède
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tonéatti
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carbon
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guillemot
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018942:Macrolides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009304:Nasopharyngitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010820:Physicians; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018942:Macrolides; D013449:Sulfonamides; D047090:beta-Lactams