Med. praxi. 2010;7(1):32-34

Acute otitis media in a general practitioner’s praxis

MUDr.Jakub Dršata, Ph.D., MUDr.Lukáš Školoudík, MUDr.Katarína Zborayová, doc.MUDr.Jan Vokurka, CSc., MUDr.Petr Čelakovský, Ph.D.

Klinika ušní, nosní a krční, Fakultní nemocnice Hradec Králové

Acute otitis media is a frequent, typically well recognizable and treatable disease. Its representative form is an acute purulent otitis media

(AOM). This is typical for a children age. The diagnosis assessment is based on a symptomatology of otalgia, common cold signs and an

otoskopic finding of changes on the eardrum. The otogene complication must be excluded. The differential diagnosis includes first of

all external ear canal inflammation. Four stages can be distinguished in the course of the disease. Patient follow-up can be terminated

after withdrawal of clinical signs and middle ear pressure normalisation. The treatment of OMA must be begun immediately. It is based

on pain relief, treatment of concomitant colds and antibiotics (at a suppurative stage), eventually paracentesis. The prevention of OMA

is a correct nasal breathing and protection against cold. Vaccination against pneumococcus haemophilus and influenza infection is also

available. Recurrent OMA requires elimination of risk factors (e. g. adenoids), eventually insertion of ventilation tube. The main objective

for a general practitioner is disease recognition, treatment of OMA initial stages and referring of indicated patients to ENT care.

Keywords: acute inflammation middle ear, otitis media

Published: April 22, 2010  Show citation