Office myringotomy for acute otitis media: its value in preventing middle ear effusion.

Middle ear effusion (MEE) as a residual of treated acute otitis media was found in 49% of 776 children studied. No antibiotic singly or in combination, demonstrated superiority in reducing the incidence of MEE. Simple myringotomy, as a therapeutic modality in 415 children who presented with an acutely bulging painful eardrum, did not facilitate adequate drainage as 51% of such children, treated with simple myringotomy in addition to antibiotics, had MEE detected 10 days later. The incidence of MEE also occurred independently of the middle ear pathogen. Within six weeks, spontaneous resolution of the effusion occurred in 85% of the 382 children with MEE that was detected 10 days after acute otitis media.