Comparison of Ampicillin and Amoxicillin in the Treatment of Otitis Media in Children

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Abstract
Acute otitis media in children was treated in a double-blind study with either amoxicillin or ampicillin. A total of 157 episodes of otitis in 123 patients of mean age 18.5 months were evaluated. Middle ear fluid was collected by aspiration. Amoxicillin was given at a dose of 12–30 mg/kg per day in three doses and ampicillin at 50–70 mg/kg per day in four doses. Diplococcus pneumoniae was recovered from 55 patients and Haemophilus influenzae from 49. The remainder of patients had a variety of other organisms. Amoxicillin and ampicillin were equally effective in eradicating pneumococci and Haemophilus. There also was no difference in outcome in the patients who had no pathogen isolated from the initial middle ear aspiration. Both agents showed a relapse rate in excess of 20% during the two months of follow-up. Side effects were more common in ampicillin-treated children (26 %) than in amoxicillin-treated children (8%).