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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