FREE NEJM E-TOC    HOME   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   CURRENT ISSUE   |   PAST ISSUES   |   COLLECTIONS   |   Search Term  Advanced Search

Sign in | Get NEJM's E-Mail Table of Contents — Free | Subscribe

Volume 308:297-301 February 10, 1983 Number 6 Next

	Add to Personal Archive Add to Citation Manager Notify a Friend E-mail When Cited PubMed Citation

Abstract

In a double-blind, randomized trial of 553 infants and children who had otitis media with effusion ("secretory" otitis media), we compared the efficacy of a four-week course of an oral decongestant-antihistamine combination (pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, 4 mg per kilogram of body weight per day, and chlorpheniramine maleate, 0.35 mg per kilogram per day) with that of placebo. Among patients with initially unilateral disease, resolution of middle-ear effusion occurred at four weeks in 38 per cent of those treated with placebo and 34 per cent of those treated with drug (P = 0.74). Among patients with initially bilateral disease the corresponding proportions were 19 and 21 per cent, respectively (P = 0.67). Side effects were reported more often among drug-treated than placebo-treated patients. Decongestant-antihistamine combinations do not appear to be indicated for the treatment of otitis media with effusion in infants and children.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Mandel, E. M., Casselbrant, M. L., Rockette, H. E., Fireman, P., Kurs-Lasky, M., Bluestone, C. D. (2002). Systemic Steroid for Chronic Otitis Media With Effusion in Children. Pediatrics 110: 1071-1080 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Harkness, M. J., Melhus, A., Hermansson, A., Rosenfeld, R. M., Paradise, J. L., Froom, J., Culpepper, L., Paradise, J. L. (1998). Controversies: Treatment of Acute Otitis Media. JAMA 279: 1783-1785 [Full Text]  
• Simons, F. E. R., Simons, K. J. (1994). The Pharmacology and Use of H1-Receptor-Antagonist Drugs. NEJM 330: 1663-1670 [Full Text]  
• Morehead, M.A., Lobach, K., Lee, J. (1987). Medication Costs in Different Provider Settings. American Journal of Medical Quality 2: 71-78 [Abstract]  
• Orson, J. (1987). Clinical Correspondence: Over-the-Counter Cough Formulas. CLIN PEDIATR 26: 287-287  
• Dusdieker, L. B., Smith, G., Booth, B. M., Woodhead, J. C., Milavetz, G. (1985). The Long-term Outcome of Nonsuppurative Otitis Media with Effusion. CLIN PEDIATR 24: 181-186 [Abstract]