Why are children susceptible to acute otitis media and what should we do once they are diagnosed with it? During the change of seasons, parents often come to the ENT outpatient clinic and night shift with their children in their arms in a hurry. There is no other reason than that the child cries sporadically in the middle of the night, complaining of ear pain or pointing his finger at his ear. After careful questioning of the medical history, there is often a history of nasal congestion and runny nose or upper respiratory tract infection, and the examination reveals that the child has acute otitis media, and some even have purulent discharge or combined otitis media. Otitis media is a common childhood disease that, if not treated promptly and effectively, is likely to develop into secretory otitis media, which can result in hearing loss and have a significant impact on the child’s life and learning. Why are children susceptible to acute otitis media? 1. The eustachian tube of children is short, wide and straight, and horizontally positioned, plus children’s own resistance is poor, so they are very susceptible to upper respiratory tract infections that lead to increased nasal secretions or vomiting, coughing or excessive nose-blowing force that leads to congestion and swelling of the mucous membrane of the eustachian tube and impaired cilia movement, so bacteria can easily reach the middle ear and cause acute otitis media; 2. In addition, if you dig your ears improperly and accidentally destroy the mucosa of the external ear canal or the tympanic membrane, bacterial infection may spread to the middle ear cavity, thus causing otitis media. Once acute otitis media is diagnosed, you will need to: 1. Apply an adequate amount of antibacterial agents systemically to control the infection if there is no purulent discharge. 2. Apply about 3 drops of levofloxacin ear drops in the affected ear upwards and press the ear screen several times to allow the drug to fully enter the middle ear cavity, keeping it for about ten minutes (ear bath), three times a day. 3. Nasal use of nasal drops containing ephedrine or nasal hormones to reduce swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. If you have a history of rhinitis or sinusitis, you should strengthen the treatment. 4. If there is a combination of secretory otitis media, anti-allergic drugs and pro-discharge agents such as pediatric Gineton or Mucosolvan oral solution should be added. 5. Timely follow-up to avoid complications. 6.Living care: Do not enter the ear when bathing or washing hair; avoid lying down if the child drinks milk; for small children, parents can help to suck out the mucus in the nasal cavity to ensure the nasal cavity is clear; prohibit swimming and diving during the cold, and prohibit riding in high-speed elevators and airplanes; prohibit blowing the nose with force. 7. Prevention: Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccination is available. If the child has obvious purulent discharge, the pus should be collected and sent for bacterial culture and drug sensitivity to find the appropriate antibacterial drug in time, and the pus should be washed away with 3% hydrogen peroxide each time before using the ear drops.