Diagnosis and Monitoring the Effectiveness of Treatment For Chronic Exudative and Purulent Otitis Media

Abstract

Acute otitis media is a very common infectious pathology of the middle ear. The diagnosis is clinical, so a thorough physical examination and pneumotoscopy are essential to evaluate tympanic mobility. There are two tendencies regarding management, immediate antibiotic treatment or strict observation (depending on the characteristics of the patient and the clinical picture). The most common germs are viruses, Pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenza and Moraxella catarrhalis. The prevalence of each of them varies according to geographic region and according to the presence of vaccination. Antibiotic resistance has been increasing in recent years, but it can still be considered sensitive to amoxicillin, which is why its use is recommended as the first line. In the case of treatment failure, combinations with B-lactams and/or cephalosporins can be used, leaving clindamycin or quinolones in exceptional cases. Those children with recurrent AOM will require specialty evaluation for further study and treatment.