title: Management of the draining ear in children.
abstract: There are a variety of causes of otorrhea in children. The most important factor in reaching the proper diagnosis and providing relief of the problem is aural toilet. Once adequate debridement has been performed, the diagnosis is usually clearer, and treatment with ototopicals is significantly more effective. Most cases of otorrhea are due to infection or granulation tissue and can be managed initially with appropriately selected ototopical medication, thereby avoiding the risks and side effects of systemic therapy and the need for referral to a specialist. However, otorrhea in children that is refractory to medical therapy may be due to retained tympanostomy tubes or insidious pathology such as cholesteatoma or malignancy. In such cases, prompt referral to the otolaryngologist can facilitate accurate diagnosis and successful management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery, Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Darrow
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002558:Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D003052:Cochlear Aqueduct / Q000503:physiopathology; D015834:Cochlear Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003646:Debridement; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005402:Fistula / Q000150:complications; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications*; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents