Question
A 12-year-old boy, in elementary school, has been scratching his ear and complaining of itching recently. This morning, he was found to have purulent, slightly yellow earwax. At the same time, his appetite is poor, and his throat feels uncomfortable. How should one treat a child’s middle ear infection and earache?
Answer
If a child has a middle ear infection, it is first advisable to use symptomatic antibiotic medication. An ear secretion bacteria culture can be performed to use anti-inflammatory ear drops based on the test results. For children with prominent earache symptoms, painkillers can be administered. If the child has a fever, parents can give him some antipyretic medication. In severe cases, it is recommended to seek medical attention as soon as possible. These are common treatment methods. However, if the child shows symptoms of eardrum perforation, immediate hospital treatment and surgery are required. During treatment, it is also important to arrange for a light diet for the child and enhance nutritional supplementation to aid in an early recovery.