This meta-analysis sought to contemplate the impact of antibiotic therapy in pediatric acute sinusitis.
Antibiotics significantly lower treatment failure rates in children with acute sinusitis but increase the risk of diarrhea.
This meta-analysis sought to contemplate the impact of antibiotic therapy in pediatric acute sinusitis.
Comprehensive searches were carried out in Medline and Embase. Those randomized, placebo-controlled trials were included that examined antibiotic use for acute sinusitis in children younger than 18 years, with symptoms lasting fewer than 4 weeks. Notably, 2 reviewers independently extracted study data. Pooled analyses were carried out primarily via fixed-effects models.
In total, 6 eligible trials were identified. Antibiotic therapy was linked with a 41% reduction in treatment failure when compared with placebo (risk ratio [RR] 0.59). Considerable heterogeneity was witnessed across studies (I² = 69.7%); however, heterogeneity dropped markedly after excluding 1 high–risk-of-bias trial (I² = 26.9%). Furthermore, kids receiving antibiotics had a higher likelihood of experiencing diarrhea, with a 1.6-fold increase in risk compared to placebo (RR 1.62).
In children with acute sinusitis, antibiotics improved cure rates while increasing gastrointestinal side effects. Nonetheless, given the typically favorable course of sinusitis, these findings also support the option of careful monitoring without immediate antibiotic use.
Pediatrics
Antibiotics for Acute Sinusitis in Children: A Meta-Analysis
Shannon J Conway et al.
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