THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, July 15, 1994                  TAG: 9407150756
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: NEWSDAY 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                         LENGTH: Short :   40 lines

WAIT-AND-SEE POLICY URGED IN TREATING CHIDREN'S EARS

Doctors should be less aggressive in treating buildup of fluid in the middle ear of young children since the condition usually clears up on its own, a federally convened panel said Thursday.

Since the ear condition can trigger periods of hearing loss in the child, the panel said, it must be monitored. But ``watchful waiting'' is effective for most children and avoids the cost and potential complications of more active treatment such as use of antibiotics or surgery.

The buildup of fluid in the middle ear is called otitis media with effusion, OME, or ``glue ear.''

The new treatment guideline, developed for the U.S. Public Health Service's Agency for Health Care and Policy Research, is aimed at children ages 1 to 3.

OME should not be confused with acute otitis media, a middle-ear infection accompanied by fever and sharp pain, which needs prompt treatment with antibiotics.

In cases of OME, the child frequently has no discomfort or symptoms. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

JOHN EARLE/Staff

OTITIS MEDIA WITH EFFUSION: a buildup of fluid behind the ear

drum that is not associated with an infection.

PAST TREATMENT: Initially, antibiotics. In prolonged cases,

surgery that involved implanting drains.

PRESENT: Initially, monitor the condition to see if it clears up.

After three to six months, antibiotics and surgery may be

considered.

by CNB