Otitis Media

Otitis Media

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Module 08 Content

Top of Form

An 8-year-old girl comes to your ambulatory care clinic with complaints of left ear pain for the past 3 days. She had respiratory infection a week ago. On physical examination, the tympanic membrane is bulging.

Answer the following questions:

1. 1. What else should you ask the client?
   2. What teaching would you reinforce to prevent the recurrence of otitis media?
   3. What expected outcomes would be specific to this situation?

1.What else should you ask the client?

• Onset and Duration: When exactly did the ear pain start, and has it been constant or intermittent?
• Symptoms: Are there any other symptoms, such as fever, ear discharge, hearing loss, or dizziness?
• Pain Characteristics: Can you describe the pain (sharp, dull, throbbing)? Is it worse at any specific time of day?
• Previous Episodes: Has she had ear infections before? If so, how frequently?
• Recent Illness: You mentioned she had a respiratory infection a week ago; did she experience any other symptoms like nasal congestion, cough, or sore throat?
• Allergies: Does she have any known allergies?
• Medication: Has she taken any medications for this issue? If so, what kind and has it helped?
• Environmental Factors: Has she been exposed to cigarette smoke, or does she attend daycare (increased risk factors for otitis media)?
• Immunizations: Are her vaccinations, particularly for pneumococcus and influenza, up to date?

2. What teaching would you reinforce to prevent the recurrence of otitis media?

• Hygiene Practices: Encourage proper hand washing to prevent infections.
• Avoid Secondhand Smoke: Ensure that she is not exposed to cigarette smoke, which can increase the risk of ear infections.
• Breastfeeding: If applicable, encourage breastfeeding as it provides antibodies that help fight infections.
• Immunizations: Make sure her vaccinations, especially the pneumococcal vaccine and annual influenza vaccine, are up to date.
• Feeding Practices: Advise against bottle feeding while lying down as this can contribute to ear infections.
• Allergy Management: If she has allergies, manage them properly to reduce the risk of ear infections.
• Environmental Control: Minimize her exposure to large groups of children, especially in settings like daycare, where infections spread easily.
• Follow-up: Encourage regular follow-up visits to monitor her health and address any early signs of ear infections.

3. What expected outcomes would be specific to this situation?

• Pain Relief: The patient will report a decrease in ear pain within 48-72 hours of starting appropriate treatment.
• Resolution of Infection: Signs of the ear infection, such as a bulging tympanic membrane, will resolve within 7-10 days.
• Normal Hearing: The patient will maintain or return to normal hearing function as the infection clears.
• No Complications: The patient will experience no complications such as tympanic membrane perforation or mastoiditis.
• Understanding of Prevention: The patient and her caregivers will understand and implement measures to prevent the recurrence of otitis media.
• Adherence to Treatment: The patient and her caregivers will adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen, including completing the full course of antibiotics if prescribed.