Externalear canal

Eustachiantube

Cochlea

Acousticnerve

Anatomy of the ear

Otoscopic view

Otoscope

Eardrum

Eardrum

Semicircularcanals

Middle ear

INFE

CTIO

US D

ISEA

SES

The Journal of the American Medical AssociationJAMA PATIENT PAGE

Acute Otitis Media

A cute otitis media (middle ear infection) is extremely common in children and also occurs in adults. In acute otitis media, infection occurs behind the tympanic

membrane (eardrum). Acute otitis media is usually caused by bacteria. In some individuals, ear infections may occur again and again. Acute otitis media is an infection and is different than otitis media with effusion, the presence of fluid in the middle ear without infection. The November 17, 2010, issue of JAMA includes an article about diagnosis and treatment of acute otitis media.

SYMPTOMS

FOR MORE INFORMATION

• American Academy of Pediatrics www.aap.org www.healthychildren.org

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov

INFORM YOURSELF

To find this and previous JAMA Patient Pages, go to the Patient Page link on JAMA’s Web site at www.jama.com. Many are available in English and Spanish. A Patient Page on inappropriate use of antibiotics was published in the August 19, 2009, issue; one on acute sinusitis was published in the May 6, 2009, issue; and one on coughs, colds, and antibiotics was published in the May 28, 2003, issue.

Janet M. Torpy, MD, Writer

Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator

Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor

2194 JAMA, November 17, 2010—Vol 304, No. 19

Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

The JAMA Patient Page is a public service of JAMA. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, JAMA suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be photocopied noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients. To purchase bulk reprints, call 312/464-0776.

• Fever• Ear pain, which may manifest as

difficulty sleeping or poor eating

• Rubbing the ear by infants and toddlers

• Drainage from the ear

• Examination of the ear, called an otoscopic examination, is the most important test for diagnosis of an ear infection.

• The eardrum may bulge out, it is often reddened, and fluid can be seen behind the eardrum.

• If the eardrum has been perforated (has a hole in it), then the perforation can be seen. There may be evidence of drainage or crusting in the ear canal.

• Children who have environmental allergies, who are exposed to tobacco smoke, or who have eustachian tube dysfunction (the drainage passage from the middle ear to the back of the throat does not work properly) are more likely to have acute otitis media or effusion.

DIAGNOSIS

More than 80% of ear infections can resolve on their own. Sometimes antibiotic treatment is necessary, especially if there is no improvement with a few days of watching an otherwise healthy child and providing pain relief with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Infants younger than 6 months with an infection, however, should receive antibiotics without delay. Some children with special circumstances should be more aggressively treated. These conditions include congenital heart disease, cleft palate, Down syndrome, or immune system problems (such as leukemia, other cancers, or inherited disorders of the immune system). Children who have an episode of acute otitis media within 30 days of another episode usually require antibiotic treatment. Ear tubes are not the first-line treatment for acute otitis media, though they may be offered to individuals who have chronic middle ear fluid or chronic otitis media. Children with repeated ear infections are often referred to an otolaryngologist (a doctor with specialized education in the management and surgery of head and neck problems) for evaluation. Ongoing research may offer new recommendations for treatment of acute otitis media. Since the vaccine for Streptoccocus pneumoniae (PCV) was introduced, other bacteria not covered by this vaccine are now more common causes of acute otitis media. Antibiotic resistance (when bacteria are no longer killed by certain antibiotics) also changes with time, and this may influence the choice of antibiotic treatment in the future.

TREATMENT

Downloaded From: https://jama.jamanetwork.com/ by a Non-Human Traffic (NHT) User on 03/12/2019