Prophylaxis of otitis media in asthmatic children.

Seventy-two asthmatic children with recurrent otitis media were studied over a 2-year interval. They were randomly divided to receive either (1) no routine medication, (2) antihistamines whenever nasally congested, (3) daily sulfisoxazole at 500 mg twice a day, (4) pneumococcal immunization and (5) both pneumococcal vaccine and 500 mg sulfisoxazole twice daily. There was no apparent benefit in the antihistamine group. There was a mean yearly reduction in otitis media of 75% in the sulfisoxazole group, 38% in the pneumococcal vaccine group and 90% in the group treated with both agents. The latter group also had a 56% reduction in frequency of acute asthmatic attacks and a 90% decrease in hospitalizations associated with otitis media. In conclusion the use of sulfisoxazole and pneumococcal vaccine appears efficacious for management of asthmatic children with recurrent otitis media.