Is local ointment or cauterization more effective in childhood recurrent epistaxis

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of nasal antiseptic ointment and silver nitrate cautery in the treatment of children with recurrent epistaxis. Methods: In this prospective and randomized study, a hundred children with recurrent epistaxis were assigned into two groups. In group 1, patients underwent silver nitrate cauterization, in group 2 patients were treated with nasal antiseptic ointment (oxytetracycline hydrochloride-polymyxin B sulfate); and both groups were followed for 3 months. All of the patients were investigated for allergy with skin prick test. Results: The ages of patients were similar in both groups (group 1:9.2 +/- 2.7; group 2:8.2 +/- 2.2; p = 0.069). Thirty-eight percent of the patients in group 1 and 52% of the patients in group 2 had epistaxis in the three months follow-up. The difference between groups was not significant (p = 0.159). Thirteen (26%) of the patients in group 1 and 12(24%) of the patients in group 2 were found to have allergic symptoms and positive prick test. The rate of allergy was similar in both groups (p = 0.817). Conclusion: Nasal antiseptic ointment and silver nitrate cauterization were found to have similar outcomes in the treatment of recurrent epistaxis.