What do systematic reviews say?

Ventilation tubes vs non‐surgical treatment

• Ventilation tubes (grommets) for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  Low

Adenoidectomy and unilateral ventilation tube vs unilateral ventilation tube only

It is very uncertain whether adenoidectomy and unilateral ventilation tube changes presence or persistence of OME (3 years ‐ long‐term) № of… compared with unilateral ventilation tube only (very low certainty).

• Adenoidectomy for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.67 [0.35, 1.29]
  Studies not reported
  Very low

Adenoidectomy and ventilation tubes vs watchful waiting

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

Adenoidectomy and ventilation tubes vs watchful waiting

It is very uncertain whether adenoidectomy and ventilation tubes changes presence/persistence of OME (at 2 years ‐ long‐term) № of… compared with no treatment/watchful waiting (very low certainty).

• Adenoidectomy for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.91 [0.82, 1.01]
  Studies not reported
  Very low

Anti‐IL‐4Rα mAb (dupilumab) vs placebo (on top of topical steroids)

Anti‐IL‐4Rα mAb (dupilumab) showed no clear difference in adverse events ‐ nasopharyngitis, including sore throat (longest… compared with placebo (on top of topical steroids) (low certainty).

• Biologics for chronic rhinosinusitis 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.95 [0.72, 1.25]
  3 studies · 783 participants
  Low

Grommets vs placebo medication

• Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 76 participants
  Low

Grommets vs active monitoring

• Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 54 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

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

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

Oral steroids 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