Differentiating Acute Otitis Media and Acute Mastoiditis in Hospitalized Children.
Acute otitis media is a common infection in children. Most acute otitis media episodes can be treated at an outpatient setting with antimicrobials, or only expectant observation. Hospital treatment with parenteral medication, and myringotomy or tympanostomy, may be needed to treat those with severe, prolonged symptoms, or with complications. The most common intratemporal complication of acute otitis media is acute mastoiditis. If a child with acute mastoiditis does not respond to this treatment, or if complications develop, further examinations and other surgical procedures, including mastoidectomy, are considered. Since the treatment of complicated acute otitis media and complicated acute mastoiditis differs, it is important to differentiate these two conditions. This article focuses on the differential diagnostics of acute otitis media and acute mastoiditis in children.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Kasarmikatu 11-13, P.O. Box 263, Fin-00029 HUH, Helsinki, Finland. anu.laulajainen-hongisto@hus.fi.|Department of Allergy, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 160, FI-00029 HUH, Helsinki, Finland. anu.laulajainen-hongisto@hus.fi.
Anu
A
Laulajainen-Hongisto
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Kasarmikatu 11-13, P.O. Box 263, Fin-00029 HUH, Helsinki, Finland.
Antti A
AA
Aarnisalo
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Kasarmikatu 11-13, P.O. Box 263, Fin-00029 HUH, Helsinki, Finland.
Jussi
J
Jero
D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008417:Mastoiditis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000379:methods*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
Acute mastoiditis; Acute otitis media; Ear infection; Pediatric