IS TREATMENT OF ACUTE OTITIS-MEDIA WITH ONCE-A-DAY AMOXICILLIN FEASIBLE

We report a study of the feasibility of once-a-day amoxicillin to trea t acute otitis media (AOM). Seventy-seven children between ages 7 mont hs and 12 years with AOM participated in a double-blind, placebo-contr olled trial. Subjects received amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day for 10 days. T hey were similar in age, sex, history of ear infections, and presentin g symptoms. Group I received one total dose of amoxicillin and two dos es of placebo daily. Group II received three divided doses of amoxicil lin daily. Parents kept a daily diary of symptoms related to the child 's illness and possible medication side effects. Ten children were los t to follow-up. In the remaining 67, pneumatic otoscopy and tympanomet ry after 10 to 14 days revealed that AOM had resolved in 82% of group I and 68% of group II. Groups showed no significant differences in per sistence of middle ear effusion; 39% in group I and 24% in group II st ill had fluid. Diaries showed no significant differences between group s in medication side effects. Thus, reduced-frequency dosing for AOM s eems feasible and more realistic than current regimens.