Overview
Introduction
Because the youngest and most commonly affected patients cannot describe their pain, recognizing otitis media often depends on behaviour and on what caregivers report.
Because the youngest and most commonly affected patients cannot describe their pain, recognizing otitis media often depends on behaviour and on what caregivers report. Your careful observation and interview give the care team information that the child cannot provide. In infants and toddlers, watch for pulling, tugging, or rubbing at the ear, though ear-pulling alone is not proof of infection. Look for irritability and inconsolable crying, especially crying that gets worse when the child lies down. Poor sleep, poor feeding because sucking and swallowing change ear pressure, fever, fussiness, and sometimes vomiting or loose stools may occur. A recent cold with a runny nose and cough commonly comes first. Parents may notice that the child does not respond to sounds as usual, or they may see fluid or pus draining from the ear. Older children and adults can describe ear pain, fullness or pressure, muffled or reduced hearing, and sometimes popping sensations. Fever may or may not be present. Adults are less likely to develop otitis media, so persistent one-sided pain or middle-ear fluid deserves a clear report because an...