ACUTE OTITIS-MEDIA IN CHILDREN - ROLE OF ANTIBIOTIC-THERAPY

In a review and critical appraisal of the literature on antibiotic the rapy for acute otitis media in children between 1939 and 1991, poor ev idence supported the routine use of antibiotic therapy. Good evidence supported initial symptomatic treatment and institution of antibiotic therapy only in cases of an irregular course (fever or pain for more t han 48 to 72 hours) in children 2 years and older. This approach canno t be recommended for children 2 years and younger because this age gro up has been excluded from most studies.