Ear infection dilemma: do antibiotics work better than a placebo for young children?
NCT ID NCT07730814
First seen Jul 28, 2026 · Last updated Jul 29, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial investigates whether antibiotics like amoxicillin or amoxicillin-clavulanate ease symptoms of ear infections (acute otitis media) in children aged 6 months to 3 years better than a placebo. Over 1,100 children are randomly assigned to one of three groups, and families track daily symptoms using a simple diary. The goal is to see if antibiotics truly reduce symptom burden and to identify factors like age or fever that might influence treatment success.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, or a placebo (inactive pill)
- What this could lead to
- If this trial succeeds, it could clarify whether antibiotics truly help children with ear infections feel better faster, potentially reducing unnecessary antibiotic use.
- What could go wrong
- This is a single trial, and results may not apply to all children. Placebo-controlled antibiotic trials carry risks like worsening infection if antibiotics are truly needed.
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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
Locations
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Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, United States
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Duke University Hospital
Durham, North Carolina, 27705, United States
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Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, Washington, 98105, United States
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UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
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University of Colorado, Denver
Denver, Colorado, 80204, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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