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Oral steroids alone or followed by intranasal steroids versus watchful waiting in the management of otitis media with effusion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 August 2017

A Hussein ,
H Fathy ,
S M Amin  and
N Elsisy
A Hussein*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
H Fathy
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
S M Amin
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Al Fayoum, Egypt
N Elsisy
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Student Hospital, Cairo University, Egypt
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Ahmed Hussein, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt E-mail: Asilyahmed@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the effects of oral steroids alone or followed by intranasal steroids versus watchful waiting on the resolution of otitis media with effusion in children aged 2–11 years.

Methods:

A total of 290 children with bilateral otitis media with effusion were assigned to 3 groups: group A was treated with oral steroids followed by intranasal steroids, group B was treated with oral steroids alone and group C was managed with watchful waiting. Patients were evaluated with audiometry and tympanometry.

Results:

The complete resolution rates of otitis media with effusion were higher in groups A and B than in group C at six weeks. There were no significant differences in otitis media with effusion resolution rates between the groups at three, six and nine months.

Conclusion:

Oral steroids lead only to a quick resolution of otitis media with effusion, with no long-term benefits. There was no benefit of using intranasal steroids in the management of otitis media with effusion.

Keywords

Otitis Media With EffusionSteroids; AudiometryTympanometry

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 131 , Issue 10 , October 2017 , pp. 907 - 913
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2017 

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