MEDIC

Management of acute Ear Discharge in Children: a feasibility study.

Acute otitis media with discharge (AOMd) happens when a child has an ear infection behind the eardrum that causes the eardrum to burst, leading to fluid leaking from the ear. In the UK, this condition leads to more than 41,000 GP appointments each year. AOMd can affect children physically—causing pain and discomfort—and can also be worrying and stressful for their families.

Children with AOMd are usually treated with either antibiotic medicine taken by mouth or antibiotic ear drops. GPs tend to use oral antibiotics, while hospital doctors often choose ear drops. The severity of the illness is the same in both places, but there isn’t good evidence showing which treatment works better, so practice varies. If ear drops are found to be just as effective as oral antibiotics, this could reduce side effects and help limit antibiotic resistance.

Our research question is: Is it possible to run a randomised controlled trial (RCT) that compares oral antibiotics with antibiotic ear drops for treating AOMd in children?

Our objectives are:

• To find out whether an RCT using remote electronic consent (e‑consent) is workable, comparing oral amoxicillin (or clarithromycin) with ciprofloxacin ear drops.
• To understand what helps or hinders parents and carers when giving antibiotics to their children.