What do systematic reviews say?

Intranasal steroid spray vs control

Summary of findings: intranasal steroids showed no clear difference in hearing loss (Audiometry failing) [9 months]2 compared with control (moderate certainty).

• Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.17 [0.87, 1.58]
  141 participants
  Moderate

Intranasal steroid spray vs control

Summary of findings: intranasal steroids showed no clear difference in OME resolution at short‐term compared with control (moderate certainty).

• Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.64 [0.31, 1.31]
  1 study · 44 participants
  Moderate

Intranasal steroid spray vs control

Summary of findings: intranasal steroids showed no clear difference in OME resolution at intermediate‐term compared with control (moderate certainty).

• Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.11 [0.85, 1.46]
  1 study · 172 participants
  Moderate

Intranasal steroid spray vs control

Summary of findings: intranasal steroids probably leads to lower OME resolution at long‐term compared with control (moderate certainty).

• Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.85
  1 study · 144 participants
  Moderate

Intranasal steroid spray vs control

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

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

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

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

Summary of findings: intranasal steroids plus oral antibiotic showed no clear difference in OME resolution at intermediate‐term 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 1.26 [0.54, 2.96]
  1 study · 59 participants
  Moderate

Summary of findings: intranasal steroids plus oral 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: 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
  39 participants
  Moderate

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

Systemic corticosteroids plus intranasal steroid/mucolytic/decongestant vs no intervention

It is very uncertain whether systemic corticosteroids plus intranasal… changes psychophysical testing for recovery of sense of smell compared with no intervention (very low certainty).

• Interventions for the treatment of persistent post‐COVID‐19 olfactory dysfunction 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 11 [0.7, 173.66]
  1 study · 18 participants
  Very low

Systemic corticosteroids plus intranasal steroid/mucolytic/decongestant vs no intervention

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the treatment of persistent post‐COVID‐19 olfactory dysfunction 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found