Abstract

BRAVO C, Gustavo; AGUIRRE R, Noemí  and  BAHAMONDE S, Héctor. Xylitol and acute otitis media prevention. Rev. Otorrinolaringol. Cir. Cabeza Cuello [online]. 2012, vol.72, n.1, pp. 97-102. ISSN 0718-4816.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-48162012000100013.

Acute otitis media (AOM) is an extremely common disease in school children and infants, which is the first cause of antibiotic use in this latter group. The main agent involved is S pneumoniae. It has proposed the hypothesis thatxylitol, a polyol which is present in the bark of birch, may have inhibitory effects on this bacteria and another otopathogen at the time found in the nasopharynx, which may be effective in preventing the invasion of the tympanic cavity and thus the development ofAOM. In this review, is it discussed the studies supporting the use of xylitol prophylaxisof AOM.