The role of topical therapy in the treatment of acute otitis media in children

Acute otitis media is a common disease in children and accounts for about 2% of the total child morbidity. In the largest percentage of cases, acute otitis is usually successfully resolved, but its relapses increase the possibility of complications and lead to higher treatment costs, as well as lower quality of life for both the patient and his or her family in general. Therapy of acute otitis media depends on the stage of disease development and clinical manifestations and is aimed at early resolution of inflammatory process and prevention of disease progress and complications development. Pathogenetic therapy is shown at the 1st and 2nd stages of development of acute otitis media and is based on restoration of auditory tube function and normalization of nasal breathing (unloading – intranasal therapy). As a local analgesic therapy for acute otitis media in children, ear drops containing non-opioid analgesic antipyretic drug phenazone and lidocaine, consisting of a combination of phenazone (40 mg) and lidocaine hydrochloride (10 mg), are most commonly used. Phenazone is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and has an anti-inflammatory effect, typical for non-selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase, while lidocaine has a local analgesic effect. Based on the clinical trials conducted, it was recommended to include combined topical drugs as a local analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug with effective action and good tolerability in all age groups into the combined therapy of acute preperforative otitis media. © 2020, Remedium Group Ltd. All rights reserved.