THERAPY OF ACUTE OTITIS-MEDIA - CLINICAL AND ECONOMIC-ASPECTS

Acute otitis media is a common health problem worldwide that accounts for significant morbidity, primarily among pre-school-age children, fo r which antimicrobial therapy is currently the treatment of choice. Ap proximately 25% of all prescriptions written in the US for children un der the age of 10 years are for children diagnosed as having acute oti tis media. Until adequately designed studies with appropriate patient populations are conducted, clinicians must base their decisions to tre at acute otitis media with antimicrobial therapy, and their choice of drug, on local susceptibility patterns (if known), in vitro and in viv o studies, adverse effect profiles, tolerability, and affordability. S uch studies will hopefully answer questions about selecting an antimic robial for acute otitis media and address the comprehensive cost of us ing various antimicrobials for the condition. Because of the human and economic costs associated with acute otitis media, healthcare practit ioners should also be aware of the epidemiology, pathophysiology and v arious treatment options for children with acute otitis media.