What is acute otitis media?
Otitis Media is the collection of fluid in the middle ear that usually leads to ear drainage and pain and is most commonly referred to as an ear infection. It is a common type of infection caused by the bacteria that live in the nose and throat of most all people. Otitis Media accounts for a huge number of doctor visits by children each year especially kids under the age of 7. This is due in large part to the short length of their Eustachian tubes, which are the tubes that link the middle ear tothe throat. The short length of these tubes coupled with the under developed muscles surrounding them, allows bacteria to back up into the middle ear from the nose and throat and lead to the formation of infection. As infection progresses in this area, fluid begins to build in the middle ear, which puts pressure on the eardrum and causes pain. In some severe cases, this membrane can even rupture leading to more serious problems. There are several antibiotics that are used to treat this type ofin
A diagnosis of acute otitis media requires: · Recent, usually abrupt, onset of illness. · The presence of middle ear fluid, or effusion. · Signs or symptoms of middle ear inflammation. Over 5 million AOM cases occur annually in US children, resulting in more than 10 million annual antibiotic prescriptions and about 30 million annual visits to doctor’s offices. Fifty percent of antibiotics for preschoolers in the US are prescribed for ear infections. Using an observation option could reduce antibiotic prescriptions annually by up to 3 million and would significantly reduce the prevalence of resistant bacteria.
