title: Acute otitis externa in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the summer months I see many children with uncomplicated acute otitis externa (AOE). I am aware of the multiple ototopical preparations. Which is the best first-line agent to treat AOE, and is there a role for an oral antibiotic?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are no specific Canadian guidelines for the management of AOE. However, current American guidelines promote initial ototopical therapy without systemic antibiotics for uncomplicated AOE; suggest there is little difference between the various ototopical preparations; and recommend the choice of treatment be based on the specific clinical situation. In practice, this often results in prescribing an antibiotic-steroid formulation for 7 to 10 days. This ototopical treatment option is supported by a recent Cochrane review that has documented the superiority of an antibiotic-steroid combination when compared with placebo or acetic acid in providing clinical resolution of AOE.
authors.affiliation: BC Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Room K4-226, Ambulatory Care Bldg, 4480 Oak St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4.
authors.forename: Colin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McWilliams
authors.forename: Christine H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Ran D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D000075202:Contraindications; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids