Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * acute otitis media along the diagnostic criteria: 1. The child has acute symptoms, such as fever, ear pain, or respiratory symptoms 2. Tympanic membrane shows in otoscopy at least one of the following acute inflammatory signs: * intense erythematous patches or streaks over full tympanic membrane * bulging tympanic membrane 3. The presence of middle-ear effusion, established either by * decreased or absent mobility in pneumatic otoscopy, * flat tympanogram (B) or * air-fluid interfaces behind full or bulging tympanic membrane Exclusion Criteria: * complicated AOM * mastoiditis, facial palsy, inner ear infection * spontaneous perforation of the tympanic membrane * known allergy to aminopenicillins * known severe allergy to other beta-lactam antibiotics * antibiotic treatment for another infectious disease, present or during two preceding weeks * tympanostomy tube or chronic perforation of the tympanic membrane * anatomic defect or anomaly affecting the susceptibility to AOM * immune defect, either primary or secondary * severe chronic kidney disease * known hearing defect