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Re: topical analgesics

Since the recommendation came out last year I have been trying to NOT
treat anyone over 2 with oral abx if they have a noncomplicated OM.
I give the parents the speech regarding the current thought that most
will resolve on their own and that our goal is pain control, and give
them the auralgan drops and a promise that if they are not better in
48 hours I will see them again to revaluate.  Well, in my office I
haven't had much success with the no treatment approach.  Most have
had to come back and be put on abx, so many in fact that I now just
write the rx for the abx and tell them to start the abx on their own
in 48 hours if they are still not better because I can't fit all
these kids back in my schedule and they could have started the abx
that day anyway.

I personally don't know why I have not been able to duplicate the
results of the study.  It might be because I have a very high
threshold for calling a ear an OM in the first place (it must be so
fluid filled and bulging with pain before I count it) that maybe the
ones that I let go anyway (the dull or red ear, or small layered
fluid not bulging, or even the infected ear without pain) were the
ones they counted as OM that resolved.  The drug reps hate me because
I have the lowest doses of abx used per patient load in my area and
95% of it is plain old amoxil.  I am really a pusher of the "it's
viral, just wait and see" approach.

Anyone else with similar results?
Dianna Tolen, M.D.

Kids First Pediatric Care
Canfield, Ohio