Ear

Question 1

Otitis media describes a spectrum of diseases, what are they all? (5)

Answer 1

1. Acute otitis media (AOM)
2. Otitis media with effusion (OME)
3. Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM)
4. Mastoiditis
5. Cholesteatoma

Question 2

Otitis media affects which part of the ear?

Answer 2

Middle ear

Question 3

Which bacteria most commonly cause acute OM? (4)

Answer 3

1. Haemophilus influenzae
2. Strep. pneumoniae
3. Moraxella catarrhalis
4. Strep. pyogenes

Question 4

Which viral pathogens are associated with acute OM? (5)

Answer 4

1. RSV
2. Rhinovirus
3. Adenovirus
4. Influenza virus
5. Parainfluenza virus

Question 5

Why do children acquire AOM much more frequently than adults?

Answer 5

Children acquire viral infections more often than adults and they have shorter, more horizontal eustachian tubes

Question 6

What are the risk factors fr developing acute OM? (11)

Answer 6

1. Young age
2. Male
3. Smoking and/or passive smoking
4. Frequent contact with other children e.g. nursery
5. Craniofacial abnormalities
6. Use of a dummy
7. FH of OM
8. GOR
9. Prematurity
10. Immunodeficiency
11. Recurrent URTI

Question 7

Without antibiotic treatment, how quickly should symptoms improve for someone with acute OM?

Answer 7

Symptoms should improve within 24 hours in 60% of children and most will recover within 3 days

Question 8

What are the complications of acute OM? (6)

Answer 8

1. Persistent OM with effusion
2. Recurrence of infection
3. Hearing loss (usually conductive and temporary)
4. Tympanic membrane perforation
5. Labyrinthitis
6. Mastoiditis, meningitis, intracranial abscess, sinus thrombosis, facial nerve paralysis (all very rare)