Sulfisoxazole prophylaxis of middle ear effusion and recurrent acute otitis media.

The efficacy of sulfisoxazole prophylaxis was evaluated in 32 otitis-prone children in a double-blind cross-over clinical trial. During the sulfisoxazole therapy, seven patients (22%) had nine episodes of acute otitis media (AOM) while 20 patients (63%) receiving placebo had 36 episodes of AOM (P = .001). Although sulfisoxazole appeared to be beneficial in patients aged 2 to 5 years, statistically significant efficacy was noted only in children under 2 years of age. Otitis media with effusion persisting for more than five weeks was observed in ten children (31%) during sulfisoxazole therapy and in 14 children (44%) during the placebo period (P greater than .975). Sulfisoxazole therefore appears effective in preventing recurrent symptomatic AOM but not in reducing the frequency of persistent otitis media with effusion. The importance of careful follow-up of children receiving long-term sulfisoxazole therapy for prevention of recurrent AOM is stressed.