Author Question: The nurse should expect the initial plan of care for a 9-month-old child with an acute otitis media ... (Read 159 times)

Yi-Chen · **on:** Jun 27, 2018

The nurse should expect the initial plan of care for a 9-month-old child with an acute otitis media infection to include:

a. symptomatic treatment and observation for 48 to 72 hours after diagnosis.
b. an oral antibiotic, such as amoxicillin, several times a day for 7 days.
c. pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
d. myringotomy with tympanoplasty tubes.

Question 2

The child with chronic otitis media with effusion should be evaluated for which problem?

a. Brain abscess
b. Meningitis
c. Hearing loss
d. Perforation of the tympanic membrane

Animal_Goddess · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 27, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A
For select children 6 months of age or older with acute otitis media, as an alternative to initiating antibiotic therapy, once diagnosed, acute otitis media is treated by initiating symptomatic treatment and observation for 48 to 72 hours. Acute otitis media may be treated with a 5- to 10-day course of oral antibiotics. When treatment is indicated, amoxicillin at a divided dose of 80 to 90 mg/kg/day given either every 8 or 12 hours for 5 to 10 days may be ordered. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine helps to prevent ear infections but is not included in the initial plan of care for a child with acute otitis media. Surgical intervention is considered when the child has persistent ear infections despite antibiotic therapy or with otitis media with effusion that persists for more than 3 months and is associated with hearing loss.

Answer to Question 2

C
Chronic otitis media with effusion is the most common cause of hearing loss in children. The infection of acute otitis media can spread to surrounding tissues, causing a brain abscess or meningitis. Inflammation and pressure from acute otitis media may result in perforation of the tympanic membrane.