ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA IN PEDIATRIC PRACTICE: UPDATE

Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common infections in childhood. It is considered the main cause of prescribing antibiotics in pediatrics. Physicians tend to overdiagnose this disease leading to an unnecessary antibiotics prescription which exposes the child to an unwanted side effects, mainly diarrhea. Diagnosis is routinely based on symptoms and otoscopy findings. A diagnosis of AOM should be considered in any young child who presents with irritability, lethargy, otorrhoea and fever with or without localized ear pain. Distinguishing between AOM and otitis media with effusion (OME) is important. OME is more common than AOM. Primary treatment is aimed at reducing pain. Symptoms in isolated, unilateral AOM usually resolves after 2 days without antibiotic treatment. Always consider the possibility of sepsis in an ill child with fever