A Wait-and-See Approach to Management of Otitis Media in Children: Readers Weigh In

The preponderance of evidence opposes the routine use of antibiotics, although some readers disagree.

Dear Readers,

Several weeks ago, we posted a summary of a BMJ study that reported an association between antibiotic use and higher recurrence rates of otitis media in children. This summary, and our interpretation of it as yet another piece of evidence against the routine use of antibiotics for acute otitis media, provoked an unprecedented reader response and a healthy debate. We asked Jill M. Baren, MD, MBE, FACEP, FAAP, a leading pediatric emergency medicine specialist at the University of Pennsylvania and former editor of Journal Watch Emergency Medicine, to respond to the issues raised by our readers. You will find the summary, our readers' remarks, and Dr. Baren's response at JW Emerg Med Aug 7 2009.

Author

Ron M. Walls, MD, FRCPC, FAAEM

Disclosures

Speaker's bureauAirway Management Education Center, LLC

EquityAirway Management Education Center, LLC

Grant / Research supportAgency for Health Care Research and Quality

Editorial boardsManual of Emergency Airway Management; Rosen's Emergency Medicine; UpToDate; Scientific American Medicine

Leadership positions in professional societiesAssociation of Academic Chairs in Emergency Medicine (President)