PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - McWilliams, Colin J.
AU  - Smith, Christine H.
AU  - Goldman, Ran D.
TI  - Acute otitis externa in children
DP  - 2012 Nov 01
TA  - Canadian Family Physician
PG  - 1222--1224
VI  - 58
IP  - 11
4099  - http://www.cfp.ca/content/58/11/1222.short
4100  - http://www.cfp.ca/content/58/11/1222.full
SO  - Can Fam Physician2012 Nov 01; 58
AB  - Question In the summer months I see many children with uncomplicated acute otitis externa (AOE). I am aware of the multiple ototopical preparations. Which is the best first-line agent to treat AOE, and is there a role for an oral antibiotic? Answer There are no specific Canadian guidelines for the management of AOE. However, current American guidelines promote initial ototopical therapy without systemic antibiotics for uncomplicated AOE; suggest there is little difference between the various ototopical preparations; and recommend the choice of treatment be based on the specific clinical situation. In practice, this often results in prescribing an antibiotic-steroid formulation for 7 to 10 days. This ototopical treatment option is supported by a recent Cochrane review that has documented the superiority of an antibiotic-steroid combination when compared with placebo or acetic acid in providing clinical resolution of AOE.