Question
My son is 4 years old. In recent days, he has told me that his ear hurts a bit. I noticed that the earwax is purulent and a bit yellow, and the ear is buzzing. He also has a slight fever. How should a child with otitis media with drainage be treated?
Answer
If a child has otitis media, first, they can take symptomatic antibiotic medication. They can also have an ear secretion culture to use anti-inflammatory ear drops based on the test results. If the ear pain is severe, some painkillers can be given appropriately. If the child has a fever, parents can give the child fever-reducing medication or take them to the hospital immediately. These are common treatment methods. However, if the child shows symptoms of tympanic membrane perforation, they need to go to the hospital for timely surgical treatment. During the treatment period, it is important to keep the child warm and avoid catching a cold to worsen the symptoms.