What do systematic reviews say?

Corticosteroids vs placebo

• Corticosteroids for the treatment of idiopathic acute vestibular dysfunction (vestibular neuritis) 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 73 participants
  Moderate

Oral steroids vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether oral steroids changes adverse event: systemic corticosteroid side effects compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Topical and oral steroids for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  Very low

Oral steroids vs no treatment

• Topical and oral steroids for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  Very low

Intranasal steroid spray vs control

Summary of findings: intranasal steroids showed no clear difference in adverse effects [3 months] compared with control (low certainty).

• Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.26 [0.8, 1.99]
  2 studies · 231 participants
  Low

Oral steroids vs control

• Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 143 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intranasal steroid spray vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether topical (intranasal) steroids changes adverse event: systemic corticosteroid side effects compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Topical and oral steroids for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  Very low

Intranasal steroid spray vs no treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Topical and oral steroids for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Summary of findings: intranasal steroids plus oral antibiotic vs control plus antibiotic

• Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 59 participants
  GRADE not reported

Summary of findings: oral steroids plus antibiotic vs control plus antibiotic

Summary of findings: oral steroids plus antibiotic showed no clear difference in adverse effects [2 weeks to 6 months] compared with control plus antibiotic (low certainty).

• Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.5 [0.81, 2.78]
  2 studies · 255 participants
  Low