- A study has found that there’s no long-term benefit in reducing ear infections from placing tubes in children’s ears versus prescribing oral antibiotics.
- There was also no increase in antibiotic resistance.
- Nor was there any difference in quality of life for the children or their parents.
- For most children, a wait-and-see approach will be appropriate before placing tubes.
- However, there are still instances when children may benefit from the placement of tubes.
A study has found that, compared with antibiotics, placing tympanostomy tubes in small children’s ears provides no long-term benefit in reducing recurrent ear infections.
The study included children ages 6 to 35 months who had had at least three episodes of middle ear infections (acute otitis media) within a 6-month period.
Children who had had at least four episodes within a 12-month period, with at least one of those episodes occurring in the preceding 6 months, were also included.
The children were randomly assigned to receive either placement of tympanostomy tubes along with antibiotic ear drops or oral antibiotics as needed for infections.
Tympanostomy tubes are very small cylinders made of either plastic or metal that are surgically placed into the eardrum. They create an airway that ventilates the middle ear and prevents fluids from building up behind the eardrum.
Following assignment, the researchers then measured the outcome based upon the average number of episodes of middle ear infections per child during a 2-year period.
Source: healthline