Effect of zinc sulfate supplementation on otitis media with effusion in children

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Abstract

  Background: To determine the effect of oral zinc sulfate supplementation given with coamoxiclav as compared with coamoxiclav alone for treatment of otitis media with effusion (OME). The efficacy was assessed 3 and 6 weeks after administration.     Materials and Methods: In a double – blind, randomized trial 4 to 14 years old children with OME who referred to ear, nose and throat clinic, were randomly assigned into two groups: Zinc group Placebo group.   Children were examined by otoscopy and tympanometry at entry and after 3 weeks of treatment. For children who had not been cured completely after 3 weeks, treatment continued for more 3 weeks (total of 6 weeks).     Results: A total of 52 children were studied consisting zinc group 29 and placebo group 23 children. At the end of the first course of treatment (3 weeks) 62.1% of children in the zinc group had clinical improvement compared with 43.5% of children in placebo group.Tympanometrically, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups. There was no statistically difference between two groups at the end of second Course of treatment (6 weeks), too. But the response rate of zinc group was better than the placebo group (43.8 versus 12.5% clinically and 56.3 versus 40 tympanometrically) Zinc administration and cycles of treatment had not statistically significant relationship.     Conclusion: Although in this study oral zinc sulfate supplementation had not statistically effect on treatment of OME, the response rate was better in zinc group compared to placebo group specially for longer administration. according to the findings, it seems more studies about oral zinc supplementation in the treatment of OME is needed.

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