What do systematic reviews say?

Antibiotics vs no treatment/placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Systemic antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Antibiotics vs no treatment/placebo

• Systemic antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 33 participants
  Very low

Antibiotics vs no treatment/placebo

• Systemic antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 33 participants
  Very low

Antibiotics vs no treatment/placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Systemic antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

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

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

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

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

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

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

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

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

Summary of findings: oral steroids plus antibiotic showed no clear difference in hearing loss [2 months]1 compared with control plus antibiotic (moderate certainty).

• Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.01 [0.73, 1.4]
  1 study · 99 participants
  Moderate

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

Summary of findings: oral steroids plus antibiotic leads to higher OME resolution at short‐term compared with control plus antibiotic (high certainty).

• Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.99 [1.14, 3.49]
  5 studies · 409 participants
  High

Summary of findings: oral steroids plus 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
  1.44 [0.97, 2.13]
  2 studies · 231 participants
  High

Topical quinolone vs boric acid

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Topical quinolone vs boric acid

Topical antibiotics (quinolones) may leads to lower ear pain, discomfort, irritation compared with boric acid (low certainty).

• Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.56 [0.32, 0.98]
  2 studies · 510 participants
  Low

Topical quinolone vs boric acid

• Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 390 participants
  Low

Topical quinolone vs boric acid

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Topical quinolone vs boric acid

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Topical quinolone vs povidone‐iodine

It is very uncertain whether topical antibiotics (quinolones) changes resolution of ear discharge (1 to 2 weeks) compared with povidone‐iodine (very low certainty).

• Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.02 [0.82, 1.26]
  1 study · 39 participants
  Very low

Topical quinolone vs povidone‐iodine

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Topical quinolone vs povidone‐iodine

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Topical quinolone vs povidone‐iodine

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Topical quinolone vs povidone‐iodine

• Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 40 participants
  Very low