GUIDELINES FOR ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA RECOMMENDED BY THE ITALIAN PAEDIATRIC SOCIETY (SIP) AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS (AAP)

Key words: Acute otitis media, Antibiotic, Therapy, Wait and see strategy, Guidelines

The debate about acute otitis media (AOM) is endless, like any other subject that greatly affects the daily routine of the family paediatrician. However, much greater rigour is needed in the use of antibiotics (to safeguard a heritage that is certainly not infinite), so our prescription habits must be reassessed. Therefore, the vigilant wait in AOM has become a possible tested and recommended behaviour that today guidelines have opportunely fixed. There are no longer excuses or justifications. However, it is true that otitis with severe otalgia (eversion of the tympanic membrane) must be opportunely and conveniently treated immediately upon the onset at all ages. A few days of therapy with high doses of amoxicillina three times a day is the best treatment. The association with clavulanic acid should mainly be administered to children under 2 years old.