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Chronic suppurative otitis media in Tanzanian school children and its effects on hearing.

OBJECTIVES
To compare different treatment regimens of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) in school children, in regard to their consequence in hearing and discharge from the ear drum perforation.


DESIGN
Randomised controlled trial.


SETTING
Randomly selected primary schools within Dar es Salaam.


SUBJECTS
Three hundred and twenty eight children between 5-17 years of age with CSOM in one or both ears.


RESULTS
Three to four months after the onset of treatment 31% of group 1, 54% of group 2, and 56% of group 3, had dry ears. Treatment with dry mopping and boric acid in alcohol ear drops was significantly better than dry mopping alone. Adding amoxicillin to the treatment did not improve the end results. Hearing test performed before and after treatment showed that the hearing thresholds were the same or better after the treatment. The possible risk that boric acid in alcohol ear drops should lead to sensorineural hearing loss has not been confirmed.


CONCLUSION
Based on the above results, the treatment of choice for CSOM in children in Dar es Salaam should be dry mopping and boric acid in spirit ear drops.