Otitis Media

Learning objectives.After working through this topic, the RN can: - distinguish acute otitis media (AOM), otitis media with effusion (OME), recurrent AOM, chronic suppurative otitis media and otitis externa from the history and otoscopic findings; - apply the two-part diagnostic pattern for AOM: middle-ear effusion plus acute inflammation; - give analgesia first, and explain how the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) separates children who can be observed from children who need an antibiotic at once; - check an amoxicillin order against the CPS dosing ranges, and recognise when the prescriber may choose amoxicillin-clavulanate instead; - teach caregivers what improvement looks like and when to return; - recognise red flags and complications, and escalate them; - recognise the groups of children, such as infants under six months and children with tympanostomy tubes, for whom the usual pathway does not apply. The RN teaches, assesses and checks orders. The RN does not prescribe antibiotics or change a prescribed regimen. Overview. Otitis media is inflammation or infection involving the middle ear, the air-filled space behind the tympanic membrane. It is common in infants...