By now I'm sure everyone has seen their fair share of cases of AOM.  Well, every single time I've heard the same speech from my physician about the parent having the power to treat the illness by doing nothing at all...just waiting and watching and treating the child's pain.  Sometimes the parents are amenable to this option and other times they just want the antibiotic.  Which type of parent is right?

Well, several studies have been done on this subject.  One study (which I was not able to link to) found demonstrated a lack of correlation between antibiotic use and therapeutic benefit.  It seems that is the direction that the research shows, but a true test is how the parents and patients in the United States are reacting to it, and what physicians are doing in their treatment plans.

A great study used claims data for dispensed medications and physician visit records from 1996-2000 and it seems that word is catching on. There was a significant describe in the prescribing of antibiotics, especially for otitis media.

However, another study demonstrated some of the problems with AOM: overdiagnosis and subtherapeutic dosing of antibiotics being two of the most prevalent.  Compliance with the CDC guidelines for treatment was found to be 38% by chart audit, and 41% by self report.  Hey, at least the docs were honest, right?

The final study I looked at, investigated a possible solution: SNAPs. Safety Net Antibiotic Prescriptions have been used in other countries with success.  This study set out to determine whether or not it could catch on in the US.  This Ohio Valley study found that of the 175 children who completed the study, only 31% had filled their antibiotic prescription.  This demonstrates a willingness on the part of parents to treat with pain medication only, and might be an option for the future in the United States.

 It's a healthy thing to look for solutions, rather than just trying to find the faults with everything.  After all, that's how things get better.