Answer:
The important guidelines are:
- Observe if the organism has fought the disease.
- Age of the patient.
- Presence of severe pain or fever.
- Signs of secretion.
Explanation:
Every ear infection is called otitis. It is called otitis media when it reaches the middle ear region, where the eardrum, the tympanic chamber, the small bones of the ear and the ear tube (or Eustachian tube) are located, and it connects with the nose.
Most of the time, the body can fight otitis media. Observation is recommended only in cases of (1) children aged 6 to 23 months with moderate ear pain for less than 48 hours and fever below 39 ℃ and (2) children aged 24 months with moderate pain in one or more both ears for less than 48 hours and fever below 39 ℃.
Symptoms may be eased with painkillers, but consult your pediatrician for children and adolescents, as some medications should not be given under certain conditions.
Antibiotics should be judicious to avoid bacterial resistance, but a specialist may recommend when severe pain or fever exceeds 39 ℃. Children under 6 months of age are often applying for antibiotics before the observation time, but only the specialist may indicate. Normally, in 2 or 3 days the fever subsides, but hearing may require more time to return to normal.
Although there are cases of observation, it is important to be aware of the evolution of the condition, because if the infection is not treated there may be a total loss of hearing.
When hearing loss does not regress, it is recommended to investigate for signs of retained secretion behind the middle ear. If present, it needs to be surgically removed through a small incision in the eardrum, as it may become the focus of other episodes of infection or impair hearing.