Better Otoscopic Skills Needed to Diagnose Acute Otitis Media

Perhaps acute otitis media deserves a little more respect. Half of all children with acute otitis media do not present with ear pain or fever, making diagnosis a challenge for primary care physicians, according to this retrospective analysis of a very large pediatric database. The authors say that better diagnostic otoscopic skills are needed to avoid underestimating acute otitis media. In view of the widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, they add, the incidence of the condition should be monitored systematically.


RESULT: Burden of acute otitis media in primary care pediatrics in Italy: a secondary data analysis from the Pedianet database
BMC Pediatrics | Nov 29, 2012 (FREE FULL TEXT)


Half of acute otitis media affects children younger than five, according to this systematic review of information on global incidence, and their language development and school performance suffer if it leads to early-onset hearing impairment. Early diagnosis and treatment could be improved by the regular use of otoscopy in primary care, say the authors, as well as by rational use of antibiotics and inclusion of clinical algorithms in current outpatient guidelines.

RESULT: Burden of Disease Caused by Otitis Media: Systematic Review and Global Estimates
PLoS One | Apr 30, 2012 (FREE FULL TEXT)