Management of Acute Otitis Media

Acute Otitis Media (AOM), inflammation or infection of the middle ear, is an illness most parents have had experience with. Countless hours of lost sleep and worry secondary to their child’s pain and distress can keep even the most seasoned parents awake at night. Before the age of 36 months, 83% of children will experience 1 or more ear infections and AOM is the most common reason for office visits of preschoolers in the United States (Zhou, Shefer, Kong & Nuorti, 2008). The graphic below serves as a review of evidence and explores the usefulness of the information in relation to the option of watchful waiting in the management of AOM.

Review of Evidence

Evidence to Evaluate Type of Source

General information, filtered, or unfiltered Appropriate or inappropriate

Type of Research

Primary research evidence, evidence summary, evidence-based guideline, or none of these

(AAP/AAFP, 2004)

American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians. Clinical Practice Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of Acute Oitis Media Filtered Yes: Clinical practice guideline, with an evidence report, from a comprehensive review of evidence based literature on AOM completed by a committee of primary care physicians, and field experts.

Comprehensive peer review of this practice guideline was made before formal approval by partnering organizations.

This practice guideline specifically addresses watchful waiting regarding management of AOM. Evidence Based Guideline

(Block, 1997)

Causative Pathogens, Antibiotic Resistance and Therapeutic Considerations in Acute Otitis Media

Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal Unfiltered No: A discussion and review of the evidence of isolated bacterial pathogens ...

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...aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;113/5/1451

Block, S. L. (1997). Causative pathogens, antibiotic resistance and therapeutic considerations in acute otitis media. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 16, 449–456.

Kelley, P. E., Friedman, N., Johnson, C. (2007). Ear, nose, and throat. In W. W. Hay, M. J. Levin, J. M. Sondheimer, & R. R. Deterding (Eds.), Current pediatric diagnosis and treatment (18th ed., pp. 459–492). New York: Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill.

McCracken, G. H. (1998). Treatment of acute otitis media in an era of increasing microbial resistance. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 17, 576–579.

Zhou, F., Shefer, A., Kong, Y., & Nuorti, P. (2008). Trends in acute otitis media-related health care utilization by privately insured young children in the united states, 1997–2004. PEDIATRICS, 121(2), 253-260. doi: 10.1542/peds.2007-0619