Numbing ear drops could ease children's ear infection pain faster
NCT ID NCT05651633
First seen Jul 16, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether adding lidocaine ear drops to standard painkillers provides better ear pain relief for children aged 1–6 with acute otitis media. Half the children receive the ear drops plus usual care (oral painkillers, with or without antibiotics), while the other half receive usual care alone. Parents track their child's pain over three days to see if the drops make a meaningful difference.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- lidocaine hydrochloride ear drops (Otalgan)
- What this could lead to
- If effective, adding lidocaine ear drops to standard painkillers could offer faster, more complete ear pain relief for children with ear infections, reducing distress and antibiotic use.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small trial (29 children) and the benefit over usual care may be modest or not statistically significant. Ear drops cannot be used if the eardrum is perforated, and side effects like local irritation are possible.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
Enter your email to view the contact information for this study.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Locations
-
University Medical Center Utrecht
Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 CX, Netherlands
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Steroid shot or sports tape: which eases wisdom tooth pain better?
- Simple breathing exercises after gallbladder surgery may cut pain and nausea
- Brain scans reveal how imagining acupuncture may rewire pain pathways
- Could a Computer-Controlled needle make dental visits less scary for kids?
- Pain research seeks volunteers for future studies
- Touch and tingle: Non-Drug therapies aim to tame chemo side effects