Bromhexine for otitis media with effusion.

As one of the causes of persistence of otitis media with effusion is reputed to be the viscidity of the mucoid effusion in the middle ear, a double-blind drug trial with a mucolytic agent, bromhexine hydrochloride, was carried out. There were 97 affected ears in the active group and 98 ears in the placebo group. There was 3.6 times the resolution rate in the active group and the results were not related to the size of the adenoids nor the season. This study shows that bromhexine hydrochloride is a valuable adjunct in the treatment of otitis media with effusion.