Laser Acupuncture for Otitis Media With Effusion in Children

NCT ID: NCT07242001

Last Updated: 2025-11-21

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 32 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-12-01
• Study Completion Date: 2026-06-30

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if laser acupuncture (LA) can improve middle ear function and reduce the recurrence of Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) in children. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does LA, when combined with standard treatment (decongestants), improve middle ear function as measured by tympanometry immediately after the 2-week intervention? Does LA, when combined with standard treatment, reduce the recurrence rate of OME as monitored over a 1-month period after the intervention? What is the safety profile of LA in this population, as measured by the incidence of adverse events? Researchers will compare active LA to sham LA (a placebo procedure with an inactive device) to determine if LA leads to meaningful improvements in children with OME.

Participants will:

Complete an initial assessment using tympanometry to confirm the diagnosis. Receive four sessions of either active LA or sham LA over a 2-week period. Complete a final assessment using tympanometry after the final session. Participate in a 1-month follow-up period with weekly monitoring for recurrence.

Detailed Description

This is a double-blind, randomized controlled trial designed to assess the effectiveness and safety of laser acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) in children. A total of 32 participants aged 2-10 years will be randomly assigned to either a treatment group (receiving active laser acupuncture and standard decongestants) or a control group (receiving sham laser acupuncture and standard decongestants). The intervention consists of four sessions over two weeks. The primary outcome is the improvement of middle ear function, measured by a change in tympanometry results from Type B to Type A. Secondary outcomes include the rate of OME recurrence at one month and the incidence of adverse events during the therapy period. This study will provide evidence on whether laser acupuncture is a beneficial, non-invasive treatment option for this common pediatric condition.

Conditions

Otitis Media With Effusion

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Intervention Group

Active laser acupuncture and standard decongestants.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Laser Acupuncture

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Laser Acupuncture is performed for 40 seconds per point at acupoints SI19, TE17, TE5, and LI4 using a low-level laser device (785 nm, 50 mW, delivering an energy density of 12.73 J/cm²). The device is activated to emit laser energy. Standard aseptic procedures are followed. The laser applicator is held perpendicular to the skin without pressure. Participants continue their routine decongestant therapy.

Control Group

Sham laser acupuncture and standard decongestants.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham Laser Acupuncture

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Sham Laser Acupuncture involves placing the applicator of an inactive laser device onto the same acupoints (SI19, TE17, TE5, and LI4) for the same duration as the active group. The device is turned on, but the start button is not pressed, so no laser energy is emitted. All procedures, including aseptic preparation, timing, and handling of the device, are performed identically to the intervention group to maintain blinding. Participants will wear ear covers and the device's LCD panel will be covered. Participants continue their routine decongestant therapy.

Interventions

Laser Acupuncture

Laser Acupuncture is performed for 40 seconds per point at acupoints SI19, TE17, TE5, and LI4 using a low-level laser device (785 nm, 50 mW, delivering an energy density of 12.73 J/cm²). The device is activated to emit laser energy. Standard aseptic procedures are followed. The laser applicator is held perpendicular to the skin without pressure. Participants continue their routine decongestant therapy.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Sham Laser Acupuncture

Sham Laser Acupuncture involves placing the applicator of an inactive laser device onto the same acupoints (SI19, TE17, TE5, and LI4) for the same duration as the active group. The device is turned on, but the start button is not pressed, so no laser energy is emitted. All procedures, including aseptic preparation, timing, and handling of the device, are performed identically to the intervention group to maintain blinding. Participants will wear ear covers and the device's LCD panel will be covered. Participants continue their routine decongestant therapy.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Children aged 2-10 years, both male and female.
• Diagnosed with OME with a Type B tympanogram curve, either unilateral or bilateral.
• No acute ear infection within the last 2 weeks.
• Willingness to participate in the study until completion and signed informed consent from a parent or legal guardian.

Exclusion Criteria

• History of tympanic membrane perforation or previous ear surgery.
• Presence of severe OME complications, such as permanent hearing loss, tympanosclerosis, or cholesteatoma.
• Underwent laser acupuncture therapy for OME within the last three months.
• History of unstable systemic disease or other medical conditions that could interfere with the study, such as a history of uncontrolled seizures or epilepsy, a current high fever >38°C, or malignancy/cancer in the ENT system.
• Presence of a mental disorder, inability to communicate well, or being uncooperative.
• Presence of wounds or skin lesions at the intended acupuncture point irradiation sites.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 2 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 10 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Indonesia University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Agitha Melita Putri

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

KPEK FKUI-RSCM

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The Health Research Ethics Commitee - Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia and Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Hospital

Locations

Universitas Indonesia

Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia

Countries

Indonesia

Central Contacts

Agitha M Putri

Role: CONTACT

agitha.melita@ui.ac.id

082114568788

Facility Contacts

Agitha M Putri

Role: primary

agitha.melita@ui.ac.id

082114568788

Other Identifiers

25-09-1474

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id