Question
Dear Baby, she is currently 4 years old and has been telling me that her ear hurts this week. This morning, there was some thick, yellow earwax, accompanied by headaches and fever. How should a child with earache and otitis media be treated?
Answer
Generally speaking, for pediatric otitis media, giving the child a moderate dose of antibiotics can be effective. After conducting a bacterial culture test of the ear secretion, an anti-inflammatory ear drop can be used. If the child’s main symptom is ear pain, it is recommended that parents give a moderate amount of pain reliever to alleviate the pain. If there is high fever, consider using fever-reducing medication, but if the fever persists, be sure to seek medical attention promptly. In addition to medication treatment, if there are serious conditions such as perforation of the eardrum, surgical treatment may be required. During treatment, it is advisable to have a light diet and consume mainly liquid food.