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Meta-Analysis
. 1991 Sep;117(9):984-9.
doi: 10.1001/archotol.1991.01870210056008.

Systemic steroids for otitis media with effusion in children

R M Rosenfeld  1 , E M Mandel, C D Bluestone
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Systemic steroids for otitis media with effusion in children

R M Rosenfeld et al. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1991 Sep.

Abstract

The role of oral steroids in the treatment of otitis media with effusion in children is the subject of ongoing debate. To critically evaluate the existing evidence, we performed a formal meta-analysis of six randomized clinical trials (n = 264 children) selected from 14 articles and abstracts. Children receiving steroids for 7 to 14 days were 3.6 times more likely than placebo-treated control subjects to have both ears free of effusion at the end of therapy (95% confidence interval, 2.2 to 4.1). This finding was essentially unchanged when the studies were weighted by a quality score, or stratified by use of concurrent antibiotic. The presence of significant heterogeneity among these studies suggests that additional trials will be needed to identify the specific subset(s) of children most likely to benefit from steroid therapy.

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Comment in

  • Otitis media.
    Shambaugh GE Jr. Shambaugh GE Jr. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1992 Apr;118(4):449. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1992.01880040117026. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1992. PMID: 1554481 No abstract available.

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