Understanding Ear Infections

Running head: OTITIS MEDIA and OTITIS EXTERNA
OTITIS MEDIA and OTITIS EXTERNA
-Nursing case study
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1OTITIS MEDIA and OTITIS EXTERNA
Introduction-
Otitis Media (OM) is a swelling occurring in middle ear, and is frequent among
children. There can be different sub-categories of OM, namely: Acute OM, OM with
Effusion (OME), chronic suppurative OM and Adhesive OM (Emedicine.medscape.com,
2018).
Figure 1: Acute OM with purulent effusion behind a bulging tympanic membrane;
source: (Emedicine.medscape.com, 2018)

2OTITIS MEDIA and OTITIS EXTERNA
Figure 2: Chronic OM with retraction pocket of the pars flaccid; source:
(Emedicine.medscape.com, 2018)
Otitis Externa (OE): this is a conditi0on caused due to swelling or infection of
external auditory canal (EAC), auricle or both. The condition is prevalent among all age
groups. OE can be of different types, namely: Acute diffuse OE, Acute localized OE, Chronic
OE, Eczematous OE, Necrotizing OE and Otomycosis (Emedicine.medscape.com, 2018).
Figure 3: Acute OE: Ear canal is red and edematous with the presence of discharge; source:
(Emedicine.medscape.com, 2018)
Symptoms-
Otitis Media:
In Acute OM (AOM) and OM with effusion (OME), persistence of fluid in the ear can
occur, even after the cure of the infection. Symptoms of AOM include pain, fever, and
problems in hearing. In very young children it can cause crying, irritability, sleeping
problems, and pulling the ear. Additional symptoms can include pharyngitis (or sore throat),
pain in neck, rhinitis (blockage or discharge from nose), and headache, tinnitus (ringing,