Abstract
Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common pediatric diseases; almost all children experience at least one episode, and a third have two or more episodes in the first three years of life. The disease burden of AOM has important medical, social and economic effects. AOM requires considerable financial assistance due to needing at least one doctor visit and a prescription for antipyretics and/or antibiotics. AOM is also associated with high indirect costs, which are mostly related to lost days of work for one parent. Moreover, due to its acute symptoms and frequent recurrences, AOM considerably impacts both the child and family's quality of life. AOM prevention, particularly recurrent AOM (rAOM), is a primary goal of pediatric practice. In this paper, we review current evidence regarding the efficacy of medical treatments and vaccines for preventing rAOM and suggest the best approaches for AOM-prone children.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Acute Disease
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage*
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Child, Preschool
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Chronic Disease
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Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
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Humans
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Influenza Vaccines / administration & dosage*
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Materia Medica / administration & dosage
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Otitis Media / drug therapy
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Otitis Media / immunology
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Otitis Media / prevention & control*
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Pneumococcal Infections / drug therapy
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Pneumococcal Infections / immunology
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Pneumococcal Infections / prevention & control*
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Pneumococcal Vaccines / administration & dosage*
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Recurrence
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Streptococcus pneumoniae / drug effects
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Streptococcus pneumoniae / growth & development
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Vaccines, Conjugate
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Vitamin D / administration & dosage
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Xylitol / administration & dosage
Substances
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
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Influenza Vaccines
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Materia Medica
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Pneumococcal Vaccines
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Vaccines, Conjugate
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Vitamin D
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Xylitol