Ear grommets are no better than antibiotics from stopping recurrent ear infections in young kids

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-05-13 07:00

International

For kids between six months and three years old with recurrent ear infections, having grommets put in their ears or having antibiotics both help prevent repeat infections to about the same degree, according to US research. The study found that the rate of repeat infections was 1.48 per child over a two year period for grommets, also known as tympanostomy tubes, compared with 1.56 per child in those given antibiotics. An accompanying comment suggests this means that management decisions can be made jointly by doctors and parents with a high degree of parental satisfaction.

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Research Massachusetts Medical Society, Web page Please link to the article in online versions of your report (the URL will go live after the embargo ends).

Editorial / Opinion Massachusetts Medical Society, Web page Please link to the article in online versions of your report (the URL will go live after the embargo ends).

Journal/
conference: New England Journal of Medicine

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Pittsburgh, USA

Funder: Supported by a grant (U01 DC013995-01A1) from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and by the University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Award (UL1RR024153 and UL1TR000005) from the National Center for Research Resources, now at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health. Dr. Hoberman reports owning stock in Kaizen Bioscience, holding patent 9,636,007 B2 on a method and apparatus for aiding diagnosis of otitis media by classifying tympanic-membrane images, and holding patent 9,987,257 B2 on pediatric oralsuspension formulation of amoxicillin–clavulanate potassium and the method for use, licensed to Kaizen Bioscience; and Dr. Martin, receiving consulting fees from Merck. No other potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

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