Treatments for Otalgia in AOM
Treatment Modality . | Comments . |
---|---|
Acetaminophen, ibuprofen63 | Effective analgesia for mild to moderate pain. Readily available. Mainstay of pain management for AOM. |
Home remedies (no controlled studies that directly address effectiveness) | May have limited effectiveness. |
Distraction | |
External application of heat or cold | |
Oil drops in external auditory canal | |
Topical agents | |
Benzocaine, procaine, lidocaine65,67,70 | Additional, but brief, benefit over acetaminophen in patients older than 5 y. |
Naturopathic agents68 | Comparable to amethocaine/phenazone drops in patients older than 6 y. |
Homeopathic agents71,72 | No controlled studies that directly address pain. |
Narcotic analgesia with codeine or analogs | Effective for moderate or severe pain. Requires prescription; risk of respiratory depression, altered mental status, gastrointestinal tract upset, and constipation. |
Tympanostomy/myringotomy73 | Requires skill and entails potential risk. |
Treatment Modality . | Comments . |
---|---|
Acetaminophen, ibuprofen63 | Effective analgesia for mild to moderate pain. Readily available. Mainstay of pain management for AOM. |
Home remedies (no controlled studies that directly address effectiveness) | May have limited effectiveness. |
Distraction | |
External application of heat or cold | |
Oil drops in external auditory canal | |
Topical agents | |
Benzocaine, procaine, lidocaine65,67,70 | Additional, but brief, benefit over acetaminophen in patients older than 5 y. |
Naturopathic agents68 | Comparable to amethocaine/phenazone drops in patients older than 6 y. |
Homeopathic agents71,72 | No controlled studies that directly address pain. |
Narcotic analgesia with codeine or analogs | Effective for moderate or severe pain. Requires prescription; risk of respiratory depression, altered mental status, gastrointestinal tract upset, and constipation. |
Tympanostomy/myringotomy73 | Requires skill and entails potential risk. |