Acupuncture Effect on Inflammatory Markers in Pediatric Otitis Media With Effusion: A Pilot Study

Acupuncture Effect on Inflammatory Markers in Pediatric Otitis Media With Effusion: A Pilot Study

Objective: to evaluate acupunctures effect on inflammatory markers in pediatric Otitis Media with Effusion Methods: 100 Children with otitis media with effusion (OME) diagnosis, who are in watchful waiting for 3 month, will be randomized in two groups: acupuncture and control. 50 Children in the acupuncture group will receive standard treatment combined with acupuncture for 3 months. 50 Children in the control group will receive standard treatment only, for the same time period. After 3 months, both groups will be reassessed for OME. Children with no improvement from both groups will be assigned for tympanostomy.

Data collection: in children undergoing tympanostomy, middle ear effusion (MEE) will be collected, analyzed and evaluated for group differences.

Inclusion Criteria:

• otherwise healthy children ages 2-8 years
• autoscopic OME diagnosis
• tympanometry type B
• conductive hearing impairment of 30 decibel or more
• who are at watchful waiting treatment for 3 months
• signed parental consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• lack of parental consent
• known coagulopathy
• past tympanostomy
• regular intake of steroids or cytotoxic drugs