Investigation on Antibiotics Use and Other Related Factors in Prevention of Recurrence of Pediatric Acute Otitis Media

Abstract

In pediatric otolaryngology, many patients are receiving antibiotics in the treatment of symptoms of otitis media. However, the relation between the use of antibiotics and the recurrence of acute otitis media after acute otitis media recovery is unclear. We collected information on prescription, clinical records, and the medication history in the International University of Health and Welfare Shioya Hospital to investigate the relation between the use of antibiotics and recurrent acute otitis media. Further, we analyzed the information of patients with recurrent acute otitis media to elucidate causative factors for the recurrence. As a result, it was suggested that the rate of recurrent acute otitis media reduces when antibiotics is administered over 4 weeks immediately after acute otitis media recovery. In addition, the number of days of taking macrolide antibiotics, and the number of days of detecting middle-ear effusion and redness at the eardrum were given as factors for the recurrence. Furthermore, a correlation was observed between the number of days of taking macrolide antibiotics and the number of days of detecting middle-ear effusion at the eardrum. Our results could be a help in preventing recurrent acute otitis media.