Management of otitis media in a high risk population.
BACKGROUND
Rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have extremely high rates of otitis media and hearing loss. Despite considerable evidence, clinical practice continues to vary. This may be partly related to the failure of recent guidelines to be explicit about which factors should influence decision making.


OBJECTIVE
To provide rural and remote GPs caring for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with an evidence based guide to the principles that determine the clinical management of otitis media and hearing loss.


CONCLUSIONS
While population health strategies are extremely important, the GP also needs to be able to advise families of affected children of the benefits and risks of the medical, surgical and audiological interventions available. The key to this process is the ability to distinguish between suppurative and non-suppurative disease, and a familiarity with the natural history and the likely hearing loss associated with different disease states in high risk populations.
Morris
P S
PS
Ear, Health and Education Unit, Menzies School of Health Research, Northern Territory.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population