title: Medical prevention of recurrent acute otitis media: an updated overview.
abstract: Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common pediatric diseases; almost all children experience at least one episode, and a third have two or more episodes in the first three years of life. The disease burden of AOM has important medical, social and economic effects. AOM requires considerable financial assistance due to needing at least one doctor visit and a prescription for antipyretics and/or antibiotics. AOM is also associated with high indirect costs, which are mostly related to lost days of work for one parent. Moreover, due to its acute symptoms and frequent recurrences, AOM considerably impacts both the child and family's quality of life. AOM prevention, particularly recurrent AOM (rAOM), is a primary goal of pediatric practice. In this paper, we review current evidence regarding the efficacy of medical treatments and vaccines for preventing rAOM and suggest the best approaches for AOM-prone children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marchisio
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nazzari
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torretta
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Principi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012008:Recurrence; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014993:Xylitol / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D008419:Materia Medica; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate; D014807:Vitamin D; D014993:Xylitol