A new study published in the journal PLoS Genetics, shows that several existing drugs currently used in cancer treatment also relieve the symptoms of persistent ear inflammation in mice. The research could eventually lead to an inexpensive, easy-to-apply localised treatment for glue ear, which could eliminate the need for children to undergo surgery to fit tiny ventilation tubes (known as grommets) into the ear. It is estimated that 90% of children in England will have had at least one episode of middle ear infection by the age of five. Most children recover quickly, but some will go on to experience repeated bouts and a number will develop a chronic condition, where inflammation continues, leading to the middle ear filling with a thick glue-like fluid. The associated hearing loss can cause both social and developmental delays in the child, including delayed language acquisition. More work is needed to replicate the study in humans to make sure that the underlying disease process is the same as the mouse model, but the researchers are optimistic that a new treatment could reach early-stage clinical trials in around five years.