Laser surgery for glue ear http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/290930.stm
Chewing a special chewing gum, made from a sugar substitute called Xylitol,
has also brought some success.
The gum is extracted from the silver birch tree and is said to have
anti-bacterial properties.
Dr Scadding says it has been shown to reduce ear infections by 30%.
(1 in 3 _isn't_ a good chance to risk your childs hearing imo)
http://www.heart-disease-bypass-surgery.com/data/articles/12.htm
(as a complementary to surgery)
Acetylcysteine (a-se-teel-SIS-teen ) is a mucolytic (medicine that destroys
or dissolves mucus). It is usually given by inhalation but may be given in
other ways in a hospital.
Controlled trial on the use of oral acetylcysteine in the treatment of
glue-ear following drainage.
Thirty-six patients, 22 males and 14 females, aged about 7 years, suffering
from serous otitis media (glue ear), mostly bilateral and characterized by
abundant viscous discharge, underwent surgery consisting of myringotomy,
aspiration and insertion of ShepardÕs transtympanic drain. After surgery 18
of these patients received 200 mg oral acelylcysteine (NAC) b.i.d. for 30
days, while the remaining patients received no treatment and acted as
controls. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the two groups.
Audiometric tests at the various frequencies most affected by the disease,
i.e. those between 250 and 3000 Hz, were performed in all patients before
surgery and after 30 days of treatment. Statistical comparison between mean
bearing threshold values recorded in patients of the treated and control
groups before and after oral NAC treatment showed that: 1. Hearing had
markedly and very significantly improved in both groups after surgery; 2.
Hearing had improved more significantly in the treated group than in the
control group; 3. Hearing improvement in the treated group was more marked
at the low and medium frequencies particularly affected by the disease.
These findings confirmed the pharmacological effect of oral NAC in the
middle ear, and showed that it enhanced recovery of hearing. Follow-up took
place in all patients in the treated and control groups one year after
surgery. Drains had remained in situ for periods ranging from 3 to 12
months, and all had been removed or spontaneously expelled when the
follow-up control was made. Otomicroscopic examination disclosed some
pathological changes in both groups. However, the incidence of these changes
was not significant in either group. Audiometric tests showed, with respect
to both groups and to all the frequencies tested, a slight reduction in the
hearing gain recorded at the previous test performed one month after the
insertion of the transtympanic drains. This loss was however less pronounced
in the treated group. In conclusion, oral NAC may be useful in enhanceing
the functional effects of surgery in serous otitis media.Balli R. Controlled
trial on the use of oral acetylcysteine in the treatment of glue-ear
following drainage. Eur J Respir Dis 61, Suppl 111;158; 1980.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/500403.html
http://www.pharmacynetworkgroup.com/mucomyst-side-effects.htm
(possible side effects of the drug)
You might want to speak to your doctor about these.
Anth