Efficacy of Medical Therapy in Patients of Otitis Media with Effusion at Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad

Abstract

Background: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is characterized by no purulent fluid accumulation in the middle ear without acute infection signs, often leading to hearing impairment and developmental delays in children. While many cases resolve spontaneously, the role of medical therapy remains controversial, with limited regional data from resource-constrained settings. Objective: To determine the efficacy of medical therapy in resolving middle ear effusion among pediatric patients diagnosed with OME at Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. Methods: This descriptive case series included 86 children aged 1 to 15 years with OME confirmed by Type B tympanogram, treated with a ten-day regimen of oral amoxicillin, nasal decongestants, antihistamines, and mucolytics. Exclusion criteria included tympanic membrane perforation, cholesteatoma, or anatomic anomalies. Tympanometry was repeated after three months to assess resolution. Data were analyzed using SPSS v25, employing chi-square tests for associations, with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Of 86 patients, 72.09% demonstrated resolution of middle ear effusion at three months. Efficacy was slightly higher in older children and females but without significant associations for age (p=0.511), gender (p=0.115), or symptom duration (p=0.499). Conclusion: Medical therapy achieved resolution of OME in a substantial proportion of cases, suggesting potential utility where surgical options are limited; however, further controlled trials are necessary to distinguish therapeutic effects from spontaneous resolution.