Medical treatment of chronic otitis media with effusion (secretory otitis media).

To determine whether antimicrobial therapy is of value in the treatment of chronic otitis media with effusion (secretory otitis media), we treated 1,429 4- to 8-year-old children--2224 affected ears--with a fixed regimen of an antibiotic mixture (Pediazole) for 10 days and a decongestant (Novafed) for 30 days. We observed the children monthly to determine the rate of clearance. Validity of diagnosis was greater than 90% with an algorithm of pneumatic otoscopy and tympanometry. Medication compliance was not measured. At 1 month, 45% of the children (48% of the ears) had cleared and at 2 months, 60% of the children (63% of the ears) had cleared. Factors such as sex and prior treatment in the preceding 3 months were no different in the cured vs. the uncured groups. Age significantly influenced the cure rate (P less than 0.0001); the older the child, the higher the clearance rate. Tympanograms type 5, 8, and 12-14 were significantly more prevalent in the uncleared group (P = 0.0001). The clear rate for unilateral cases was 76% and for bilateral cases, 47% (P less than 0.0001). Children with chronic otitis media with effusion are most likely to be cured by medical therapy/time if they are older, have unilateral disease, or a peaked tympanogram. Surgery should be withheld in these children for 2 or more months to permit the highest rate of spontaneous resolution.