STUDY OF SHORT USE OF PREDNISONE IN THE TREATMENT OF MIDDLE EAR EFFUSION

It is well known that otitis media with effusion is one of the most common diseases in Otolaryngology. The role of oral steriods is contraversial in the conservative treatment of such disease. A double blind randomized study was perform to evaluate the efficacy of oral steriods in combination with amoxicilln for the treatment of otitis media with effusion. Four hundred and eight children age group 3.5 to 7 years with otitis media with effusion during 1999 - 2001 in a double – blind , randomized prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of oral steroids in the department of Otolaryngology at Imam Khomeini Hospital were treated. Results obtained in this study showed complete recovery from otitis media with effusion in the group treated by a combination of oral steroid with amoxicillin , compared with amoxicillin or placbo treated group. The findings of our study imply that a combined course of amoxicillin with oral steroids deserves its place as a routine conservative trial before surgery.