Question
My daughter is four years old, and she has been saying her ear hurts for the past week. She sometimes has yellow fluid coming out of her ear, along with a slight fever. What should I do if my child has otitis media with yellow discharge?
Answer
If a child is diagnosed with otitis media, the first step is to administer oral antibiotics for symptomatic treatment. If the symptoms are severe, regional treatments such as anti-inflammatory ear drops can be used in conjunction. Painkillers can also be given to the child when she has ear pain. If the child has a fever, fever-reducing medication should be administered, or she should be taken to the hospital immediately. In cases where there is a perforation of the eardrum, surgical treatment may be considered for the child. Parents should also pay attention to protecting their child’s ears daily to prevent recurrence of otitis media.