In most cases, medical treatment using antihistamines, decongestants, systemic antibiotics and steroids have shown little to no effect on the long-term outcomes of uncomplicated otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. Because of this, and the costs and potential side effects, it is not recommended to prescribe these medical treatments for children with uncomplicated OME. The exception to this would be for children with coexisting conditions in which these medications are indicated for primary management. For more information:
Griffin, G, Flynn, CA. Antihistamines and/or decongestants for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;9:CD003423. PMID: 21901683.
Rosenfeld RM, Shin JJ, Schwartz SR, Coggins R, Gagnon L, Hackell JM, et al. Clinical practice guideline: otitis media with effusion (update). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;154(1 Suppl):S1‐S41. PMID: 26832942.
Simpson SA, Lewis R, van der Voort J, Butler CC. Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(5):CD001935. PMID: 21563132.
Venekamp RP, Burton MJ, van Dongen TM, van der Heijden GJ, van Zon A, Schilder AG. Antibiotics for otitis media with effusion in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;(6):CD009163. PMID: 27290722.