Understanding Otitis Media: Causes, Symptoms, Complications, and Treatment

 Otitis media 

It is an  inflamation of the middle ear and usually caused by acute nasopharyngitis.

Most common organisms causing otitis media 

1. Streptococcus pneumoniae.
2. Hemophilus influenza.

Clinical picture of otitis media 

1. High-Grade Fever: A common early symptom.
2. Agonizing Earache: Severe pain in the affected ear.
3. Ear Discharge: Occurs when the eardrum is perforated.
4. Congested Bulging Eardrum: Observed during ear examinations.

Potential Complications of otitis media 

Ear complications:

1. Chronic suppurative otitis media.
2. Chronic secretory otitis media.
3. Drum perforation.

Skeletal complications:

1. Acute or chronic mastoiditis.
2. Petrositis: infection of the pneumatized cells of the temporal bone.

Neurological complications:

1. Meningitis.
2. Acute cerebral thrombophlebitis.
3. Facial nerve palsy.
4. Acute labrynthitis.

Treatment of otitis media 

Immediate antibiotic for 10 days to prevent complications .

Best choice is :Amoxicillin (80:90)mg/kg/day in two divided doses for 10 days.

And for sure , analgesic and antipyretics to control the pain and fever.