Otitis media in children is a common disease in otolaryngology, characterized by symptoms such as ear pain, a feeling of fullness in the ear, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Acute otitis media is typically caused by bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus, leading to red and swollen eardrums. Following medical advice and using antibiotics such as amoxicillin or cefaclore, most children show improvement within about a week. Chronic otitis media develops from acute otitis media and is marked by recurrent ear discomfort. Treatment is more complex and may require tympanic membrane puncture under an endoscope combined with long-term antibiotic therapy, with a recovery period of about six months. Cholesteatoma-related otitis media involves destruction of the middle ear structures, necessitating surgical intervention, such as modified radical mastoidectomy, with patients expected to recover in about three months post-surgery. Secretory otitis media is caused by issues with the eustachian tube leading to fluid accumulation; mild cases can be treated with oral drugs such as Olynth or mometasone furoate nasal spray, showing effects in one to two weeks; severe cases may require tympanic membrane puncture, with a longer recovery time.
Overall, most cases of childhood otitis media can be cured through systematic treatment; it is important to maintain ongoing follow-up to monitor treatment progress and recovery status.
