What do systematic reviews say?

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) vs oral antibiotics

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) probably leads to higher resolution of ear discharge at short‐term compared with oral antibiotics (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for children with ear discharge occurring at least two weeks following grommet (ventilation tube)… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.58 [1.27, 5.22]
  1 study · 42 participants
  Moderate

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) vs oral antibiotics

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) showed no clear difference in adverse events compared with oral antibiotics (low certainty).

• Interventions for children with ear discharge occurring at least two weeks following grommet (ventilation tube)… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.37 [0.12, 1.09]
  3 studies · 705 participants
  Low

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) vs oral antibiotics

• Interventions for children with ear discharge occurring at least two weeks following grommet (ventilation tube)… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 153 participants
  Very low

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) vs oral antibiotics

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) probably leads to higher resolution of ear discharge at intermediate‐term compared with oral antibiotics (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for children with ear discharge occurring at least two weeks following grommet (ventilation tube)… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.7 [1.38, 2.08]
  1 study · 153 participants
  Moderate

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) vs oral antibiotics

• Interventions for children with ear discharge occurring at least two weeks following grommet (ventilation tube)… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 232 participants
  Moderate

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) vs oral antibiotics

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) showed no clear difference in tube blockage compared with oral antibiotics (low certainty).

• Interventions for children with ear discharge occurring at least two weeks following grommet (ventilation tube)… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.2 [0.33, 4.45]
  2 studies · 121 participants
  Low

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) vs oral antibiotics

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for children with ear discharge occurring at least two weeks following grommet (ventilation tube)… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) vs oral antibiotics

• Interventions for children with ear discharge occurring at least two weeks following grommet (ventilation tube)… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 153 participants
  Low

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) vs oral antibiotics

• Interventions for children with ear discharge occurring at least two weeks following grommet (ventilation tube)… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 153 participants
  Low