What is the recommended treatment for otitis media with effusion?

The recommended treatment for otitis media with effusion typically emphasizes supportive care, especially in cases where the condition is not causing significant symptoms or complications. This approach focuses on monitoring the child over time, as many cases resolve spontaneously without the need for aggressive intervention.

Supportive care can include pain management with analgesics and the use of decongestants if appropriate. The rationale for this approach lies in the understanding that otitis media with effusion often occurs as a result of middle ear fluid accumulation, which may follow a viral infection. In many instances, the fluid clears on its own within a few weeks to months.

Surgical intervention, such as tympanostomy tube placement, may be considered if effusions persist or cause recurrent acute otitis media, but it is not the first-line treatment for uncomplicated cases of effusion. Antibiotics are not typically indicated since the effusion is usually non-infectious, and corticosteroids are not routinely recommended as they have not shown significant benefit in most cases of otitis media with effusion. Thus, supportive care is the most appropriate and widely endorsed approach for managing this condition.