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The risk of a prolonged course was 2 times higher for children < 2 years of age with bilateral acute otitis media than for children > or = 2 years of age with unilateral acute otitis media. Clinicians can use these features (ie, age of < 2 years and bilateral acute otitis media) to inform parents more explicitly about the expected course of their child's otitis media and to explain which features should prompt parents to contact their clinician for reexamination of the child.

A survey was made of the English language literature on clinical trials of therapy in acute otitis media. The articles were analysed systematically for 24 parameters related to study design. We retrieved 50 studies published between 1965 and 1989. Surprisingly, the combination of a double-blind method, clearly defined inclusion criteria, and criteria for outcome was found in only 13 studies. Most of these 13 compared different antibiotic regimens and only 4 were placebo-controlled. A recommendation based on the conclusions reached can, even in these 13 studies, hardly be obtained due to failure to show an overall difference in favour of a specific treatment regimen. Our study shows that many trials are methodologically flawed which makes it difficult to accept their results. In view of current controversy on management of acute otitis media, well conducted placebo-controlled clinical trials are still needed.

Because of a marginal effect of antibiotic therapy on the development of asymptomatic MEE and the known negative effects of prescribing antibiotics, including the development of antibiotic resistance and adverse effects, we do not recommend prescribing antibiotics to prevent MEE.