SHORT-TERM USE OF AMOXICILLIN-CLAVULANATE DURING UPPER RESPIRATORY-TRACT INFECTION FOR PREVENTION OF ACUTE OTITIS-MEDIA

We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to d etermine whether acute otitis media could be prevented by antibiotic t herapy initiated promptly after the appearance of symptoms of upper re spiratory tract infection, One hundred four children aged 1 to 4 years received a 7-day course of either amoxicillin-clavulanate or placebo, Acute otitis media developed in 9 (18%) of the 50 children receiving amoxicillin clavulanate and in 12 (22%) of the 54 children receiving p lacebo (p = 0.59).