Abstract
Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common diagnosis made during medical visits in preschool-aged children and is also the most common condition for which antibacterial agents are prescribed for children in the United States. Patients with acute otitis media may present with a spectrum of nonspecific symptoms such as otalgia, crying, fever, and poor sleep (among others) which highlights the importance of an accurate otoscopic exam to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics.
Otitis media with effusion (OME) is characterized by accumulation of fluid in the middle ear in the absence of acute inflammation. OME may occur during an upper respiratory infection, as an inflammatory response following an episode of acute otitis media, or as a consequence of eustachian tube dysfunction. The management of OME includes clearing middle ear fluid to normalize middle ear pressure and hearing. This may include “watchful waiting” or myringotomy with tympanostomy tube placement (with or without adenoidectomy).
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Wisner, E.L., Paris, K. (2022). Otitis Media. In: Mahmoudi, M. (eds) Absolute Allergy and Immunology Board Review. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12867-7_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12867-7_6
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