Acute Otitis Media (AOM) is an inflammation of the middle ear that infects children below the age of six. It is characterized by oozing of fluids from the middle ear and subsequent ear infection. It is painful and sometimes results into a bulging eardrum. AOM is treated using antibiotics if the condition is severe. The prescription period is usually 7-10 days. This condition can also be observed without antibiotics. This brings the question on the best approach to use when faced with such a situation as a health care provider (MedicineNet, 2018).
Research shows that observation therapy and antibiotic therapy are both accepted by caregivers in the treatment of AOM. However, statistics show that adherence to delayed antibiotic therapy was better for those placed under observation therapy. This indicates that observation therapy enhances the reduction of antibiotic use without affecting satisfaction levels on visits (Chao et al., 2008).
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As a future primary health provider I prefer observation therapy to antibiotic therapy because it not only improves the immunity of the child but also provides an avenue for the parents and health caregivers to learn more about a particular ailment that is not life-threatening. In a normal clinical setup, most providers know when to prescribe observational therapy and when not to. The decision depends with the severity of the condition. Most providers will prescribe antibiotic therapy when the condition is severe.
However, some providers usually give in to parents’ demands to prescribe antibiotic therapy to relieve them of their worries. This is not an undue influence because, either way, the child gets some form of treatment. Most parents get educated on the differences between observational therapy and antibiotic therapy because this is a choice they must be informed about. Nevertheless, the health care provider should be the one to offer professional advice in relation to the situation at hand.
Reference
Chao, J., Kunkov, S., Reyes, L., Lichten, S. and Crain, E. (2008). Comparison of Two Approaches to Observation Therapy for Acute Otitis Media in the Emergency Department. Pediatrics, 121 (5), e1352-e1356. MedicineNet. (2018). Definition of Acute otitis media. Retrieved from https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=26131 on 28/3/2018.
