NICE Draft Guideline Consultation for Otitis Media (acute): Antimicrobial Prescribing.

NICE is consulting on the draft guidelines for Acute Otitis Media; Antimicrobial Prescribing.

Guideline Background:

• Acute otitis media is a self-limiting infection of the middle ear mainly affecting children.
• It can be caused by viruses and bacteria, and both are often present at the same time.
• Symptoms last for about 3 days, but can last for up to 7 or 8 – most children get better within 3 days without antibiotics.
• Antibiotics do not improve pain at 24 hours, and at later time points the number of children improving with antibiotics is similar to the number with adverse effects, such as diarrhoea.
  
  

 For further information or to provide feedback, please contact Caroline Rapu.