A 15-month-old boy is seen at the outpatient department for a fever. His mother says that 3 days ago her child had a cough and runny nose. She also observed him pulling on his right ear. Based on these findings, the nurse should suspect
Explanation
• Acute otitis media generally follows a respiratory infection, either bacterial or viral. Children often have rhinitis and may have a low-grade fever for a number of days. Suddenly they will have a high-grade fever and a sharp constant pain in one or both ears.
• Older children can verbalize reports of pain. The infant becomes extremely irritable and frequently pulls or tugs at the affected ear in an attempt to gain relief from pain.
• Inflammation of the middle ear is the most prevalent disease of childhood after respiratory tract infections.
Incorrect options:
• Acute otitis externa is
• Sinusitis is