In this open study, a three-day regimen of azithromycin (single daily dose of 10 mg/kg) was compared with a ten-day regimen of amoxycillin paediatric suspension (30 mg/kg/day in three divided doses; children > 20 kg received 250 mg tid daily) in 154 children (aged 2-12 years) with a clinical diagnosis of acute otitis media (13 recurrent). Full clinical, bacteriological and laboratory safety assessments were performed during and after the study. Of the 77 azithromycin patients, 61 (79%) were considered cured, 15 (19%) improved and one (1%) failed, compared with 45 (58%) cured, 28 (36%) improved and four (5%) failed among the 77 amoxycillin patients. Excluding from analysis the 13 patients with recurrent otitis media, azithromycin was found to be significantly superior to amoxycillin (P = 0.003). The incidence of side-effects was low, with only two (3%) and three (4%) patients reporting adverse events with azithromycin and amoxycillin, respectively. These were gastrointestinal in nature and of mild or moderate severity, except for one case of severe diarrhoea in the amoxycillin group. No treatment-related abnormalities in the laboratory safety tests were observed, and no patients withdrew from therapy. A three-day regimen of azithromycin was therefore shown to be more effective than, and as well tolerated as, amoxycillin in the treatment of children with acute otitis media.

Postgraduate medical education worldwide is now governed by academic standards that describe the qualities and abilities of graduates. We fi rst defi ned these standards for the general and professional competencies expected from our graduates in otolaryngology upon successful completion of training. Th ese expectations are clearly refl ected in the otolaryngology curriculum. Th e curriculum describes what trainees will know and be able to do upon completion of training.All topics covered during practical and theoretical studies are outlined in a simplifi ed manner that will aid candidates of postgraduate otorhinolaryngological practice. Th is will help guide trainees in their readings and their choice of learning activities. In addition, all required clinical cases and procedures are listed, together with expected performance at various stages of training.Th is curriculum will be constantly revised and updated. Th e examination will not normally test areas that are not clearly or implicitly included in the curriculum, but it should be noted that research and changes in the medical environment might sometimes lead to changes in scientifi c theory and clinical practice before the curriculum is updated to refl ect them.We divided the curriculum into seven main themes: Applied basic science, Pediatric otolaryngology, Head and neck surgery, Otology, Rhinology, Skull base and neuro-otology, and miscellaneous topics in otorhinolaryngology.Each theme has three pillars of competence: Knowledge (information stored in a learner's mind; they either have it or not); Clinical skills (these are actions that a person performs in a competent way to achieve a goal; skills range from none to mastery); and Attitude (a feeling about a situation based on knowledge and experience that results in an action toward that situation). All of them together defi ne the main objective for each Intended Learning Outcome (ILO).