Objective:
To assess the effectiveness of a homeopathic ear drop for treatment of otalgia in
children with acute otitis media (AOM).
Methods:
Children with AOM were enrolled in the study at the time of diagnosis and randomized
to receive either standard therapy alone or standard therapy plus a homeopathic ear
drop solution that was to be used on as needed basis for up to 5 days. Parents of
children in both treatment groups rated the severity of 5 AOM symptoms twice daily
for 5 days in a symptom diary. A symptom score was computed for each assessment with
lower scores denoting less severe symptoms. Parents of children randomized to receive
ear drops also recorded information regarding symptoms being treated and response
to treatment.
Results:
A total of 119 eligible children were enrolled in the study; symptom diaries were
received from 94 (79%). Symptom scores tended to be lower in the group of children
receiving ear drops than in those receiving standard therapy alone; these differences
were significant at the second and third assessments (P = 0.04 and P = 0.003, respectively). In addition, the rate of symptom improvement was faster in
children in the ear drop group compared with children in standard therapy alone group
(P = 0.002). The most common reason for administration of ear drops was ear pain, recorded
for 93 doses; improvement was noted after 78.4% of doses for this indication. There
were no significant side effects related to use of the ear drops.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that homeopathic ear drops were moderately effective in treating
otalgia in children with AOM and may be most effective in the early period after a
diagnosis of AOM. Pediatricians and other primary health care providers should consider
homeopathic ear drops a useful adjunct to standard therapy.
Keywords
Homeopathy - Alternative medicine - Acute otitis media
