Ref (type)	Population	Outcome, Interventions	Results and statistical analysis	Effect size	Favours
Rate of otitis media with effusion
RCT	45 children with otitis media with effusion (OME) in secondary care and selected (air force base) settings In review	Persistence of effusion 3 weeks with intranasal dexamethasone with placebo Absolute results not reported	OR 2.12 95% CI 0.65 to 6.90		Not significant
RCT	217 children aged 4 to 11 years with bilateral OME (tympanometry type B/B or B/C2)	Resolution of OME in at least one ear as assessed by tympanometry 1 month 39/96 (41%) with intranasal mometasone 44/98 (45%) with placebo nasal spray	RR 0.91 95% CI 0.65 to 1.25 P = 0.55 The RCT may have been underpowered to detect a clinically significant difference (see further information on studies)		Not significant
RCT	217 children aged 4 to 11 years with bilateral OME (tympanometry type B/B or B/C2)	Resolution of otitis media in at least one ear as assessed by tympananometry 3 months 50/86 (58%) with intranasal mometasone 45/86 (52%) with placebo nasal spray	RR 1.11 95% CI 0.85 to 1.46 P = 0.44 The RCT may have been underpowered to detect a clinically significant difference (see further information on studies)		Not significant