Trial Outcomes & Findings for Analgesic Ear Drops for Children With Acute Otitis Media (NCT NCT05651633)

NCT ID: NCT05651633

Last Updated: 2026-07-16

Results Overview

Parents will record their child's ear pain scores during the first three consecutive days using a 0-10 validated numerical rating scale. Higher scores indicate greater severity.

Recruitment status

TERMINATED

Study phase

PHASE3

Target enrollment

29 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

3 days

Results posted on

2026-07-16

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care
usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics lidocaine hydrochloride 5mg/g: 1-2 drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days
Usual Care
Usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics
Overall Study
STARTED
15
14
Overall Study
COMPLETED
14
14
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
1
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care
usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics lidocaine hydrochloride 5mg/g: 1-2 drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days
Usual Care
Usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
1
0

Baseline Characteristics

Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care
n=15 Participants
usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics lidocaine hydrochloride 5mg/g: 1-2 drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days
Usual Care
n=14 Participants
Usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics
Total
n=29 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
2.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.4 • n=15 Participants
2.9 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.5 • n=14 Participants
2.6 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.5 • n=29 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
5 Participants
n=15 Participants
6 Participants
n=14 Participants
11 Participants
n=29 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
10 Participants
n=15 Participants
8 Participants
n=14 Participants
18 Participants
n=29 Participants
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
0 Participants
Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.
Baseline ear pain score (0-10)
7.7 units on a 0-10 rating scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.6 • n=15 Participants
6.5 units on a 0-10 rating scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.9 • n=14 Participants
7.1 units on a 0-10 rating scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.8 • n=29 Participants
Number of days in pain
2.8 Days
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.5 • n=15 Participants
2.9 Days
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.9 • n=14 Participants
2.9 Days
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.7 • n=29 Participants
Baseline antibiotic prescription
5 Participants
n=15 Participants
3 Participants
n=14 Participants
8 Participants
n=29 Participants
Bilateral AOM
5 Participants
n=15 Participants
4 Participants
n=14 Participants
9 Participants
n=29 Participants
Household smoking
3 Participants
n=15 Participants
0 Participants
n=14 Participants
3 Participants
n=29 Participants
Additional children in household
9 Participants
n=15 Participants
10 Participants
n=14 Participants
19 Participants
n=29 Participants
Breastfed at 3 months
10 Participants
n=15 Participants
10 Participants
n=14 Participants
20 Participants
n=29 Participants
Body temperature
37.7 Degrees Celcius
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.99 • n=15 Participants
38.2 Degrees Celcius
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.07 • n=14 Participants
37.9 Degrees Celcius
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.04 • n=29 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 days

Parents will record their child's ear pain scores during the first three consecutive days using a 0-10 validated numerical rating scale. Higher scores indicate greater severity.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care
n=14 Participants
usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics lidocaine hydrochloride 5mg/g: 1-2 drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days
Usual Care
n=14 Participants
Usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics
The Parent-reported Ear Pain Score Over the First Three Days
4.4868 Score on a 0-10 rating scale
Interval 3.077 to 5.8966
4.3465 Score on a 0-10 rating scale
Interval 2.9367 to 5.7564

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: in the first 7 days

proportion of children consuming antibiotics during first 7 days

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care
n=14 Participants
usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics lidocaine hydrochloride 5mg/g: 1-2 drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days
Usual Care
n=14 Participants
Usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics
Proportion of Children Consuming Antibiotics
8 Participants
6 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: in the first 7 days

proportion of children with oral analgesic use during first 7 days

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care
n=14 Participants
usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics lidocaine hydrochloride 5mg/g: 1-2 drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days
Usual Care
n=14 Participants
Usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics
Proportion of Children With Oral Analgesic Use
11 Participants
14 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: in the first 7 days

Population: Outcome data not collected since collection of these data were, on hindsight, considered not sufficiently relevant to outweigh the burden associated with collecting and calculation of these data.

overall symptom burden (crying/distress, disturbed sleep, interference with normal activity, appetite, fever and hearing problems) using a 0-6 Likert scale with higher scores indicate greater severity

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: during follow up (4 weeks)

Number of days with pain score of 1 or greater on a scale of 0-10, where higher scores indicate greater pain".

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care
n=13 Participants
usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics lidocaine hydrochloride 5mg/g: 1-2 drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days
Usual Care
n=13 Participants
Usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics
Number of Days With Ear Pain
6.5 Days
Standard Deviation 5.78
4.6 Days
Standard Deviation 3.29

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: during follow-up (4 weeks)

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care
n=14 Participants
usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics lidocaine hydrochloride 5mg/g: 1-2 drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days
Usual Care
n=14 Participants
Usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics
Number of GP Reconsultations With/Without Subsequent Antibiotic Prescribing
7 Number of GP repeat consultations
18 Number of GP repeat consultations

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: during follow-up (4 weeks)

Population: Data for one participant from the intervention group missing for the diarrhoea/vomiting adverse event.

Proportion of participants experiencing adverse events during follow-up

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care
n=14 Participants
usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics lidocaine hydrochloride 5mg/g: 1-2 drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days
Usual Care
n=14 Participants
Usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics
Number of Participants With Adverse Events
Local discomfort during administration
10 Participants
Number of Participants With Adverse Events
Difficulties during administration
7 Participants
Number of Participants With Adverse Events
Diarrhoea/Vomiting
2 Participants
4 Participants
Number of Participants With Adverse Events
Rash in/around ear
1 Participants
4 Participants
Number of Participants With Adverse Events
Pruritis
1 Participants
0 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: during follow-up (4 weeks)

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care
n=14 Participants
usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics lidocaine hydrochloride 5mg/g: 1-2 drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days
Usual Care
n=14 Participants
Usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics
Number of Participants With Complications of AOM
0 Participants
0 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: At 4 weeks

The questionnaire consists of 47 items in the following areas: overall health, physical abilities, growth and development, pain, temperament and moods, behavior, general health, parental emotional impact, parental time impact, and family cohesion. Scale for each area: from 0 (worst health) to 100 (best health)

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care
n=14 Participants
usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics lidocaine hydrochloride 5mg/g: 1-2 drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days
Usual Care
n=14 Participants
Usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics
Generic Quality of Life of the Child Assessed Using the 47-item Short-form of the Infant Toddler Quality of Life Questionnaire (ITQOL-SF47)
Physical abilities at 4 weeks
87.1 Units on a scale (0-100)
Standard Deviation 13.31
86.6 Units on a scale (0-100)
Standard Deviation 15.07
Generic Quality of Life of the Child Assessed Using the 47-item Short-form of the Infant Toddler Quality of Life Questionnaire (ITQOL-SF47)
General health perceptions at 4 weeks
66.3 Units on a scale (0-100)
Standard Deviation 14.7
69.03 Units on a scale (0-100)
Standard Deviation 21.09
Generic Quality of Life of the Child Assessed Using the 47-item Short-form of the Infant Toddler Quality of Life Questionnaire (ITQOL-SF47)
Parental emotional impact at 4 weeks
86.9 Units on a scale (0-100)
Standard Deviation 12.95
88.5 Units on a scale (0-100)
Standard Deviation 9.91

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: At 4 weeks

The 6 questions measure Physical Suffering, Hearing Loss, Speech Impairment, Emotional Distress, Activity Limitations, and Caregiver Concerns. Responses for each item were scored from 1 to 7 (1=Not present/no problem; 2=Hardly a problem at all; 3=Somewhat of a problem; 4=Moderate problem; 5=Quite a bit of a problem; 6=Very much of a problem; 7=Extreme problem). The OM Total score was calculated by adding all 6 items scores, resulting in a score ranging from 6-42. Higher scores of all six items indicate greater severity and impact of OM on the child's QOL.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care
n=14 Participants
usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics lidocaine hydrochloride 5mg/g: 1-2 drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days
Usual Care
n=14 Participants
Usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics
Disease-specific Quality of Life of the Child Assessed Using the Otitis Media-6 (OM-6) Questionnaire
22.1 Units on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.26
18.7 Units on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.47

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: during follow-up (4 weeks)

Population: Outcome data not collected since collection of these data were, on hindsight, considered not sufficiently relevant to outweigh the burden associated with collecting and calculation of these data.

Mean costs per patient will be compared across the randomisation groups

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: during follow-up (4 weeks)

Population: Cost outcome data not collected since collection of these data were, on hindsight, considered not sufficiently relevant to outweigh the burden associated with collecting and calculation of these data.

i.e. the additional cost per additional 1 point reduction in mean ear pain score over the first three days for the analgesic ear drops group versus the usual care group

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

Adverse Events

Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care

Serious events: 1 serious events
Other events: 2 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Usual Care

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 4 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care
n=14 participants at risk
usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics lidocaine hydrochloride 5mg/g: 1-2 drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days
Usual Care
n=14 participants at risk
Usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics
Gastrointestinal disorders
Hospitalisation
7.1%
1/14 • Number of events 1 • 28 days of follow-up
0.00%
0/14 • 28 days of follow-up

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Lidocaine Ear Drops With Usual Care
n=14 participants at risk
usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics lidocaine hydrochloride 5mg/g: 1-2 drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days
Usual Care
n=14 participants at risk
Usual care: oral analgesic with/without antibiotics
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Pruritis
7.1%
1/14 • Number of events 1 • 28 days of follow-up
0.00%
0/14 • 28 days of follow-up
Gastrointestinal disorders
Diarrhoea/Vomiting
14.3%
2/14 • Number of events 2 • 28 days of follow-up
28.6%
4/14 • Number of events 4 • 28 days of follow-up
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Rash in/around ear
7.1%
1/14 • Number of events 1 • 28 days of follow-up
28.6%
4/14 • Number of events 4 • 28 days of follow-up

Additional Information

Dr. Roderick P. Venekamp

Department of General Practice & Nursing Science, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands

Phone: (0)887555555

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place