Diagnosis and Management of Otitis Media

Abstract Otitis media is, next to the common cold, the most commonly diagnosed disorder in children. Although considered to be a continuum, otitis media can be subclassified into acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME) based on signs and symptoms. AOM is usually treated with antibiotics but, because of the high spontaneous resolution rate, selected children may be observed rather than treated immediately. Presently, antibiotic treatment is not routinely recommended for OME. Surgical treatment consisting of tympanostomy tube insertion as a primary procedure, followed by adenoidectomy if further surgical treatment is needed, is reserved for those children with recurrent AOM or persistent effusion. The preferred management is prevention, through modifying risk factors and use of vaccines.