ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA

Course overview

ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA (AOM) IS DEFINED AS AN INFECTION OF THE MIDDLE EAR AND IS THE SECOND MOST COMMON PEDIATRIC DIAGNOSIS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS. ALTHOUGH ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA CAN OCCUR AT ANY AGE, IT IS MOST COMMONLY SEEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6 TO 24 MONTHS. APPROXIMATELY 80% OF ALL CHILDREN WILL EXPERIENCE A CASE OF OTITIS MEDIA DURING THEIR LIFETIME, AND BETWEEN 80% AND 90% OF ALL CHILDREN WILL HAVE OTITIS MEDIA WITH AN EFFUSION BEFORE SCHOOL AGE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, EPIDEMIOLOGY, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING THIS CONDITION.