Categories
Ailmemts & Remedies

Acute Otitis Media in Children

[amazon_link asins=’B0044KLP2E,B0092DEPF2,B0044KLPVU,B00CQOTUWC,9031388254,B005VPA8EC,B0044KLPNI,B00FGVY0YU,9062991017′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’3463f7ce-0734-11e7-b0fe-c18ccf34e5a6′]

Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common bacterial illness in children and the one most commonly treated with antibiotics. There has been a significant increase in, and concern about antibacterial resistance of the organisms that cause AOM. These factors suggested the need for a detailed evaluation of AOM and its management.

CLICK & SEE

While the number of office visits for otitis media with effusion   middle ear fluid  (OME) have decreased over the past decade from 25 million in 1990 to just 16 million in 2000, the number of antibiotic prescriptions to treat AOM has remained constant. At the same time, concerns about the rising rate of antibiotic   or antibacterial   use and resistance have emerged.

The most common cause of earache in children is acute otitis media, which is caused by infection in the middle children are at risk because eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to the throat, are small and become obstructed easily. acute otitis media is often part of a respiratory tract infection, such as the common cold. the infection causes inflammation that may block one of the eustachian tubes, causing a buildup in the middle ear that may get infected with bacteria.

about 1 in 5 children under age 4 has one episode of acute otitis media each year. the condition is more common in children whose parents smoke. it is also common in children of eskimo or native american descent and may run in families, suggesting a genetic factor. the condition is less common in children over the age of 8.

Sympotms:
Symptoms usually develop rapidly over several hours. a very young child may have difficulty locating the pain, and the only symptoms may be fever and vomiting. in older children, the symptoms may be more specific and include:

· earache.
· tugging or rubbing the painful ear.
· temporary impaired hearing in the affected ear.

left untreated, the eardrum may rupture, relieving the pain but causing a discharge of blood and pus. recurrent infections in the middle ear may cause chronic secretory otitis media.

What might be done?
You should consult you child’s doctor if liquid is discharged from the ear or if the earache last more than a few hours. he or she will examine your child’s ears and may blow air into the affected ear using a special instrument to check that the eardrum is moving normally. acute otitis media can clear up without treatment; however, the doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics if he or she suspects that a bacterial infection is present. to relieve discomfort, acetaminophen may be recommended. after a few days, your doctor will reexamine you child.

symptoms usually clear up in a few days with appropriate treatment. a ruptured eardrum should heal within a few weeks. in some children, hearing is affected for more than 3 months until the fluid in the ear disappears.

What are the new guidelines?
The new guidelines define acute otitis media (AOM), or middle ear infections, and outline appropriate diagnosis and treatment standards   including pain management   based on a child’s age and other factors.

What do the new guidelines recommend?
Accurately diagnose AOM and differentiate it from OME, which requires different management.
Relieve pain, especially in the first 24 hours, with ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Minimize antibiotic side effects by giving parents of select children the option of fighting the infection on their own for 48-72 hours, then starting antibiotics if they do not improve.
Prescribe initial antibiotics for children who are likely to benefit the most from treatment.
Encourage families to prevent AOM by reducing risk factors. For babies and infants these include breastfeeding for at least six months, avoiding “bottle propping,” and eliminating exposure to passive tobacco smoke.
If antibiotic treatment is agreed upon, the clinician should prescribe amoxicillin for most children.

Do the guidelines apply to all children?
No. The guidelines apply only to an otherwise healthy child without underlying conditions that may alter the natural course of AOM. These conditions include, but are not limited to, anatomic abnormalities such as cleft palate, genetic conditions such as Down syndrome, immune system disorders, and cochlear implants. Also excluded are children with a clinical recurrence of AOM within 30 days or AOM with underlying chronic OME.

What is acute otitis media?
A diagnosis of acute otitis media requires:
Recent, usually abrupt, onset of illness.
The presence of middle ear fluid, or effusion.
Signs or symptoms of middle ear inflammation.
Over 5 million AOM cases occur annually in US children, resulting in more than 10 million annual antibiotic prescriptions and about 30 million annual visits to doctor’s offices. Fifty percent of antibiotics for preschoolers in the US are prescribed for ear infections. Using an observation option could reduce antibiotic prescriptions annually by up to 3 million and would significantly reduce the prevalence of resistant bacteria.

What are the harmful effects of antibiotics?

Each course of antibiotic given to a child can make future infections more difficult to treat. The result is an increase in the use of a larger range of   and generally more expensive  antibiotics. In addition, the benefit of antibiotics for AOM is small on average, and must be balanced against potential harm of therapy. About 15 percent of children who take antibiotics suffer from diarrhea or vomiting and up to 5 percent have allergic reactions, which can be serious or life threatening. The average preschooler carries around 1 to 2 pounds of bacteria – about 5 percent of his or her body weight. These bacteria have 3.5 billion years of experience in resisting and surviving environmental challenges. Resistant bacteria in a child can be passed to siblings, other family members, neighbors, and peers in group-care or school settings.


When should antibiotics be prescribed?

For children age 6 months and younger   for certain or suspected AOM.
Children age 6 months to 2 years   for certain AOM or suspected AOM with severe symptoms; observation is an option for suspected or uncertain AOM if non-severe.
Children age 2 to 12 years   antibiotic treatment for certain AOM with severe symptoms; observation is an option for suspected or non-severe AOM.
The guideline provides an option to observe select children and only start antibiotic treatment if symptoms have not improved in 48-72 hours. Approximately 80 percent of children with AOM get better without antibiotics. And children whose ear infections are not treated immediately with antibiotics are not likely to develop a serious illness.

What if a child with a middle ear infection is in great pain and discomfort?
The mainstay of pain management for AOM is medications such as acetominophen and ibuprofen, not antibiotics. Most children with AOM have significant ear pain, which may manifest in young children as ear rubbing, sleep disruption, or temper tantrums. Analgesics are most important in the first 24 hours after diagnosis, especially before the child’s bedtime. Fortunately, by 24 hours about 60 percent of children feel better, rising to 80-90 percent within a few days. Antibiotics do not relieve pain in the first 24 hours, and have only a small effect after that.

Is my child at risk for developing other infections if she is not treated with antibiotics?
Published trials of observation, placebo, or non-antibiotic AOM therapy have shown no increased rate of complications, provided that children are followed carefully and receive antibiotics if symptoms persist or worsen. These studies vary in the age of children studied and the severity of illness, factors taken into consideration in determining which children are suitable for the observation option.

To learn more click on …………………………..(1)……(2)

Alternative Medicine for Acute Otitis Media in Children

Healing Otitis Media Through Homeopathy

Ayurvedic medicine Septilin in cases of chronic otitis media, tonsillitis, sinusitis . Septilin as an adjuvant to antibiotics .

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.

Resources:

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/aomqa.htm
http://www.charak.com/DiseasePage.asp?thx=1&id=339

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

css.php