Question
Is the cause of acute otitis media related to water entering the ear during a child’s bath?
Answer
Acute otitis media, particularly acute suppurative otitis media, is more common in children. Clinical symptoms include pain in the ear area, decreased hearing, and accompanying systemic symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, and decreased appetite. When the tympanic membrane perforates, pus may drain from the ear, which may alleviate the pain symptoms. Some parents are puzzled by pus draining from the ear and often assume it is due to water entering the ear during a bath, but this view is not accurate.