Treatment of acute otitis media in children under 2 years of age.

Background: Recommendations vary regarding immediate antimicrobial treatment versus watchful waiting for children younger than 2 years of age with acute otitis media.

Methods: We randomly assigned 291 children 6 to 23 months of age, with acute otitis media diagnosed with the use of stringent criteria, to receive amoxicillin-clavulanate or placebo for 10 days. We measured symptomatic response and rates of clinical failure.

Pneumococcal resistance and serotype 19A in Pittsburgh-area children with acute otitis media before and after introduction of 7-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

Methods: Before and after introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), the authors obtained nasopharyngeal (NP) specimens from 3 groups of children aged 6 to 23 months with acute otitis media (AOM): group 1 (pre-PCV7), group 2 (early post-PCV7), and group 3 (late post-PCV7).

Results: Of the Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates, the proportion that were vaccine serotypes (VTs) declined progressively (60.4% vs 48.

Development and preliminary evaluation of a parent-reported outcome instrument for clinical trials in acute otitis media.

Background: Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common childhood diagnosis, leading to prescription of an antibiotic in the United States. Although antibiotics are used in children with AOM, in part, to shorten the duration of symptoms, no instruments have been developed to track early changes in symptoms from the parent's point of view. The goal of the present study was to develop and evaluate a parent-reported symptom scale for children with AOM (AOM-SOS) for use as an outcome measure in AOM treatment trials.

Responsiveness and construct validity of a symptom scale for acute otitis media.

Background: Because resolution of symptoms is a primary goal of antimicrobial therapy in children with acute otitis media (AOM), measurement of symptoms in studies of antimicrobial effectiveness in such children is important. We have developed a scale for measuring symptoms of AOM in young children (AOM-SOS), and we present data on its construct validity and responsiveness.

Methods: We followed children 3 months to 3 years of age with AOM, who were receiving antimicrobial treatment, using the AOM-SOS scale.

Changes in parents' perceptions of infant influenza vaccination over two years.

Background: Inner-city health centers serving large proportions of low-income and minority children participated in a study to introduce influenza vaccination among healthy infants in 2002-2003 and 2003-2004.

Methods: Following the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 influenza vaccination seasons, a short, low-literacy level survey was mailed to parents of vaccine-eligible children. Factors related to vaccination status were determined using Chi-squared and logistic regression procedures.

Beliefs and attitudes about influenza immunization among parents of children with chronic medical conditions over a two-year period.

Influenza vaccination is recommended for children with chronic medical conditions yet is infrequently performed. The reasons for low influenza vaccination rates in this group have not been well studied. We assessed and compared parents of children with chronic medical conditions regarding their beliefs and attitudes about influenza vaccination in 2003 and 2004.

Effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine in preventing acute otitis media in young children: a randomized controlled trial.

Context: Acute otitis media (AOM) frequently complicates influenza infection. Previous studies have found influenza vaccine effective in reducing the occurrence of AOM in children mainly older than 2 years.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine in preventing AOM in children aged 6 to 24 months.