Pharmacotherapy focusing on for the management of otitis media with effusion in children: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Ryoukichi Ikeda; Hiroshi Hidaka; Makoto Ito; Yosuke Kamide; Haruo Kuroki; Atsuko Nakano; Haruo Yoshida; Haruo Takahashi; Yukiko Iino; Yasuaki Harabuchi; Hitome Kobayashi

doi:10.1016/j.anl.2022.03.017

Pharmacotherapy focusing on for the management of otitis media with effusion in children: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Auris Nasus Larynx. 2022 Oct;49(5):748-754. doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2022.03.017. Epub 2022 Mar 24.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine. Electronic address: ryoukich@hotmail.com.
² Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kansai Medcal University.
³ Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Jichi Children's Medical Center Tochigi, Jichi Medical University.
⁴ Kamide Ear Nose and Throat Clinic.
⁵ Sotobo Children's Clinic.
⁶ Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Chiba Children's Hospital.
⁷ Department of Otolaryngology, Nagasaki Harbor Medical Center.
⁸ Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo-Kita Medical Center.
⁹ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University.
¹⁰ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Showa University School of Medicine.

PMID: 35341623
DOI: 10.1016/j.anl.2022.03.017

Abstract

Objective: To examine the evidence for treating children with otitis media with effusion with pharmacotherapy.

Data sources: For the systematic review, data were retrieved from PubMed, Cochrane database, and the Japan Medical Abstracts Society Database (1st January 1995 through 31th May 2019).

Study selection: Articles addressing pharmacotherapy for the management of otitis media with effusion in children were selected in English.

Data extraction: The database was searched using the keywords "Otitis Media with effusion or secretory otitis media" and the following medical agents: carbocysteine, antihistamines, leukotriene receptor antagonist, and steroid nasal spray.

Data synthesis: After a critical review of 18 studies, studies addressing steroid nasal spray were eligible for quantitative synthesis. Intranasal steroids for OME showed no benefit with OR 1.155 (95% CI 0.834-1.598) within one month. Conversely, intranasal steroids have effects for OME with OR 1.858 (95% CI 1.240-2.786) for more than one month.

Conclusions: We found evidence of benefit from treatment of OME in children with intranasal steroids and S-carboxymethylcysteine at longer-term follow-up.

Keywords: Antihistamines, leukotriene receptor antagonist; Carbocysteine; Meta-analysis; Otitis media with effusion; Steroid nasal spray; Systematic review.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Administration, Intranasal
Child
Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
Humans
Nasal Sprays
Otitis Media with Effusion* / drug therapy
Otitis Media* / drug therapy
Steroids / therapeutic use

Substances

Glucocorticoids
Nasal Sprays
Steroids