Pharm W 10 Response: Evaluation of Acute Otitis Media and Eye Drop Use

This document presents a student's responses to a discussion prompt, focusing on acute otitis media (AOM) and the administration of topical medications. The analysis correctly identifies AOM as a common ear infection in young children, highlighting symptoms and appropriate treatments like Tylenol, ibuprofen, and amoxicillin. It also addresses the challenges of administering eye drops and ointments, especially in pediatric and geriatric patients, emphasizing the role of parents and the use of dispensing devices to ensure medication safety and adherence. The discussion underscores key considerations for effective and safe medication practices in these vulnerable populations. Desklib offers more solved assignments and study resources for students.

Running head: PHARM W 10 RESPONSE
Discussion of responses
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1PHARM W 10 RESPONSE
The response was correct in stating that acute otitis media is a kind of ear infection that
occurs when the middle ear becomes infected or inflamed due to bacterial or viral infection. The
condition is observed in children aged less than 5 years. The signs of otalgia, headache, fever,
otorrhea and vomiting were properly identified (Leung & Wong, 2017). Tylenol and ibuprofen
were accurately recognized as major pain medications. However, acute otitis media is found to
be more prevalent among children leading to bacterial infection in the middle ear, after a certain
point of typanostomy tube insertion. Use of amoxicillin at a dosage of 80-90 mg/kg/day was
correctly identified as the first-line antibiotic for most children suffering from this condition
(Lieberthal et al., 2013).
The second response was also correct in stating that administration of topical medicines
such as, eye drops and ointments are particularly difficult in children and the elderly. It
accurately recognized the role of parents in administering topical eye medications. It was
accurate in stating that parents must hold their child while ointment or eye drops are being
instilled. Furthermore, use of arm restrains are another correct approach that can be implemented
(Freedman et al., 2012). The standards of medication safety regarding wiping off excess fluid to
prevent rubbing of the ointment and drop and putting it the mouth were correctly addressed.
Moreover, the discussion was also correct in stating the geriatric patients suffering from
glaucoma can participate in self-car with the use of dispensing devices (Colome-Campos et al.,
2014). These dispensing devices help in applying the medications with safety and confidence.

2PHARM W 10 RESPONSE
References
Colome-Campos, J., Martinez-Salcedo, I., Martorell-Hallado, M. C., & Romero-Aroca, P.
(2014). Objective evaluation of applying eye drops by elderly patients. Archivos de la
Sociedad Española de Oftalmología (English Edition), 89(5), 177-181.
Freedman, R. B., Jones, S. K., Lin, A., Robin, A. L., & Muir, K. W. (2012). Influence of parental
health literacy and dosing responsibility on pediatric glaucoma medication
adherence. Archives of ophthalmology, 130(3), 306-311.
Leung, A. K., & Wong, A. H. (2017). Acute Otitis Media in Children. Recent patents on
inflammation & allergy drug discovery, 11(1), 32-40.
Lieberthal, A. S., Carroll, A. E., Chonmaitree, T., Ganiats, T. G., Hoberman, A., Jackson, M.
A., ... & Schwartz, R. H. (2013). The diagnosis and management of acute otitis
media. Pediatrics, 131(3), e964-e999.