Predictors of pain and/or fever at 3 to 7 days for children with acute otitis media not treated initially with antibiotics: a meta-analysis of individual patient data

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to determine the predictors of a prolonged course for children with acute otitis media. METHODS. A meta-analysis of data with the observation groups of 6 randomized, controlled trials was performed. Participants were 824 children, 6 months to 12 years of age, with acute otitis media. The primary outcome was a prolonged course of acute otitis media, which was defined as fever and/or pain at 3 to 7 days. RESULTS. Of the 824 included children, 303 had pain and/or fever at 3 to 7 days. Independent predictors of a prolonged course were age of CONCLUSIONS. The risk of a prolonged course was 2 times higher for children
ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA (AOM) is one of the most common childhood infections, the leading cause of doctors' visits, and the most frequent reason children receive antibiotics or undergo surgery. (1) [...]