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Acute Otitis Media in Children

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Infections of the Ears, Nose, Throat, and Sinuses

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Abstract

Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common disease of early childhood that leads to numerous physicians’ visits and antibiotic prescriptions each year. Acute otitis media generally has a favorable natural history, but in rare cases can lead to severe complications. Although AOM can affect any age group, it is most commonly diagnosed in children 6 months to 5 years of age. The recommended management of AOM includes analgesics with either antibiotic therapy or cautious observation without immediate antibiotics in appropriately selected cases. The treatment of AOM continues to evolve as practice guidelines reflect our improved understanding of treatment outcomes, natural history, host factors, and recent changes in microbiology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Eleni M. Rettig & David E. Tunkel

  2. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    David E. Tunkel

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  1. Eleni M. Rettig
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  2. David E. Tunkel
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Correspondence to David E. Tunkel .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Marlene L. Durand

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Daniel G. Deschler

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Rettig, E.M., Tunkel, D.E. (2018). Acute Otitis Media in Children. In: Durand, M., Deschler, D. (eds) Infections of the Ears, Nose, Throat, and Sinuses. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74835-1_4

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