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.