Acute otitis media in infants

Abstract

Acute otitis media (AOM) is defined as an infection of the middle ear space, characterized by the presence of fluid in this area and is mostly caused by pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae nontypificable (NTHi) and Moraxella catarrhalis. This pathology occurs more frequently in men than in women and mainly in infants, who have a higher incidence between 3 and 18 months of life. The main risk factors associated with AOM are immunodeficiency, allergies, previous upper respiratory tract infection, and a family history of recurrent childhood AOM. The most common signs of AOM are ear pain (otalgia) and fever. There are multiple methods to diagnose AOM, the main ones being otoscopy, tympanometry and acoustic reflectometry; The diagnosis should take into consideration the patient's symptoms and medical history.  The approach to acute otitis media is carried out through pharmacological and surgical treatment. Amoxicillin is considered the first-line antibiotic for the management of AOM. In cases of serious complications, surgical procedures may be urgently required, such as tympanostomy tubes and myringotomy. The main cause of antibiotic resistance is due to the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial treatment, so they should be medicated according to the requirements of each patient. If otitis media is not properly treated, the infected fluid in the middle ear can spread to nearby areas and lead to serious complications. While these are rare, they can have significant deadly consequences.