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Abstract: A 5-year-old boy presented urgently with persistent ear pain after swimming. Examination revealed that the child’s external ear canal mucosa and tympanic membrane were congested and his leukocytes were significantly elevated, thus diagnosing acute pediatric otitis media, a common type of otitis media in children. According to the specific situation of the child, oral treatment with cephalosporin antibiotics was given, together with topical application of antibiotic ear drops, and after treatment the ear pain disappeared and the inflammation was basically controlled.
Basic information】Male, 5 years old
Disease Type】Pediatric acute otitis media
Hospital】Northern War Zone General Hospital
Date of consultation】July 2021
Treatment plan】Medication (cefaclor dry suspension orally, lomefloxacin hydrochloride ear drops topically)
Treatment period】6 days of treatment, review once after 3 days of medication
Treatment effect】The ear pain disappeared and the inflammation was basically controlled.
I. Initial consultation
The 5-year-old child came to the emergency room because of ear pain. The parents said that the child gradually developed ear pain 3 days ago because of water in the ear canal after swimming. On examination, the child’s body temperature was normal. An endoscopic examination revealed that the mucosa of the external ear canal was slightly congested and the tympanic membrane was diffusely congested and swollen, but no perforation was found. Blood tests showed that the number of leukocytes in the child’s blood was significantly higher and the proportion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes increased.
II. Treatment history
The child was diagnosed with pediatric acute otitis media after examination. After it was clear that there was no contraindication to the use of cephalosporin antibiotics, the child was given oral treatment with cefaclor dry suspension and ear drops with lomefloxacin hydrochloride in the ear canal for standardized anti-inflammatory treatment. The child was also instructed to eat a light diet and avoid picking at the ear. After 6 days of outpatient treatment, the child’s earache symptoms improved significantly.
III. Treatment effect
After 1 day of medication, the parents gave feedback that the child’s crying state had improved significantly and the ear pain had been reduced; after 3 days of medication, the child’s blood count was rechecked in our hospital, and the results showed that the white blood cell count had decreased significantly. The inflammation was basically controlled.
IV. Precautions
The child recovered from the disease after timely and standardized treatment without any adverse effects on the child, which made me feel very relieved. However, after recovery, we still need to pay attention to avoid blowing the nose hard if the child has a cold, and to take protective measures when going swimming in summer. At the same time, it is important for the child to take part in more exercise, eat a light and healthy diet, and maintain a regular work and rest schedule to help strengthen the body and improve the immune system.
V. Personal insight
Pediatric acute otitis media is a very common disease in otolaryngology. After the onset of the disease, the child is often in great pain because of the obvious pain in the ear, so parents must bring him or her to the doctor for treatment in a timely manner. The main principle of treatment is to control the infection. In mild cases, oral antibiotics can be given, and in serious cases, intravenous infusion should be given in time to avoid delaying the disease and affecting the child’s hearing.