Background. First line antibiotic treatment of uncomplicated acute otitis media has been questioned. Patients and methods. In an prospective, open, controlled study, 390 children aged 1-10 years were treated either conventionally (free combinations of decongestant nose drops, mucolytics, analgesics and antibiotics) or alternatively with Otovowen, supplemented by conventional medications when considered necessary. Results. Patients treated conventionally took more antibiotics (80.5% vs 14.4%) and analgesics (66.8% vs 53.2%). The time to recovery (5.3 vs 5.1 days) and absence from school or pre-school nursery (both 1.7 days) were not significantly different between groups. Pain resolution was slightly better with conventional treatment (-5.8 vs -5.2 score points). The alternative treatment was judged both by doctors, and parents, to be significantly better tolerated. Conclusion. In uncomplicated acute otitis media of childhood, an alternative treatment strategy with the natural medicine Otovowen may substantially reduce the use of antibiotics without disadvantage to the clinical outcome. © Springer Medizin Verlag 2004.
