Acute Otitis Media

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Indications Many are viral.  Illness will resolve within 4 days in 80% of cases with no antibiotics.  Ensure adequate analgesia available. Antibiotics will not reduce pain in the first 24 hours, subsequent attacks or deafness.  Children with otorrhoea, or <2 years with bilateral acute otitis media, may have greater benefit from antibiotics but delayed prescribing may still be considered.
Organism S.pneumoniae. H.influenzae. M.catarrhalis
Samples None recommended.
Treatment
1st line Amoxicillin, 40mg/kg/day, five days treatment. Clarithromycin in penicillin allergic individuals.
Treatment
2nd line Co-amoxiclav or azithromycin (if penicillin allergic) for 5 days.

 

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