Otitis Media Flashcards
What is otitis media?
Infeciton of the middle ear
What area is classed as the middle ear?
Area bewteen teh tympanic membrane and the inner ear
What is contained within the middle ear?
The cochlea, vestibular apparatus and nerves
What is the most common bacterial cause of otitis media?
Streptococcus pneumoniae
What are the other possible causes of otitis media?
Haemophilus influenzae
Moraxella catarrhalis
Staphylococcus aureus
What is the primary feature of otitis media in adults?
Ear pain
What are the other possibel features of otitis media?
Reduced hearing in the affected ear
Fever, anorexia, vomiting
Symptoms of an URTI– cough, coryzal symptoms and sore throat
What does otitis media usually follow?
A viral upper respiratory tract infection
What symptoms can present when otitis media affects the vestibular system?
Balance issues and vertigo
What can occur if the tympanic membrane is perforated?
Discharge from the ear
How can otitis media be diagnosed?
otoscopy
What might you see on otoscopy of someone with otitis media?
Red tympanic membrane
Perforated (hole) ear drum
Discharge
What does a normal tympanic membrane look like?
“pearly-grey”, translucent and slightly shiny.
What is the management of otitis media?
Should resolve itself in 3 days to a week
When would you consider giving antibiotics immediately for otitis media?
Patients who have significant co-morbidities, are systemically unwell or are immunocompromised.
