Outcome of different treatment modalities in preschool children with otitis media with effusion

ABSTRACT

The problem of otitis media with effusion [OME] in infants and young children is worldwide. Although medical treatment is tried first, many children do not respond to it. In this study, seventy preschool children with OME received medical treatment for 3 months; 52 of them do not respond and treated surgically. A group of the children with obstructive symptoms were treated by adenoidectomy alone while the remaining were treated by adenoidectomy and bilateral myringotomy with insertion of grommet tube in the left ear only. Those without obstructive symptoms were treated by bilateral myringotomy with insertion of grommet tube in the left ear only. Follow up for six months including clinical and tympanometric assessment was done. The results revealed that medical treatment was successful in 25.7% of patients. Removal of adenoids, when indicated, improves the outcome of treatment. The use of grommet tube is more beneficial than myringotomy alone