ArticleItalian journal of pediatrics2026
Management of acute otitis media with otorrhea in Italian pediatric practice: a national survey.
Article in Italian journal of pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAcute otitis media (AOM) is a common pediatric infection, and spontaneous tympanic membrane perforation and otorrhea represent a clinically significant subset that requires specific management. Understanding current practices among pediatricians is crucial for identifying areas of concordance with guidelines, management strategies, and potential educational needs.
methodsA national survey was conducted among Italian pediatricians, including both family pediatricians and hospital-based specialists, to assess their attitudes and practices regarding the definition, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of AOM with otorrhea. A dedicated questionnaire included 20 items concerning different aspects of AOM management, including the potentiality of topical treatment for otorrhea. Data were also stratified for age, type of work, and geographic area.
resultsFive hundred pediatricians participated in the survey. The survey revealed that 57.6% of respondents preferred "acute otitis media with otorrhea" as the disease definition. AOM with otorrhea is most frequently observed in winter (45%) and autumn/spring (25% each). Approximately two-thirds of pediatricians (66%) manage 5-20 cases monthly during peak incidence. Otorrhea is reported in <10% of AOM cases by 58.6% of practitioners. A substantial majority (80.2%) initiate antibiotic treatment at the first observation in the presence of otorrhea, primarily systemic (78.2%), with amoxicillin-clavulanate (60.2%) being the preferred drug for 8-10 days (72.4%). Recurrences within 3 months are reported by 72.8% of respondents, with <10% of patients reporting them. There is raised interest in treatment alternatives (85.8%) and a preference for topical administration for specific patient categories (60.6%).
conclusionsThis national survey suggests that Italian pediatricians commonly favor early antibiotic treatment for acute otitis media with otorrhea, while areas of uncertainty remain regarding watchful waiting, treatment duration, and the role of topical therapy. These findings highlight the need for clearer, practice-oriented guidance and further research.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.