acute otitis media

In the United States, acute otitis media (AOM), defined by convention as the first 3 weeks of
a process in which the middle ear shows the signs and symptoms of acuteinflammation, is
the most common affliction necessitating medical therapy for children younger than 5 years.

Nursing Interventions for Acute Otitis Media

 Determine pain characteristics through client’s description

 Use pain rating scale appropriate for age

 Monitor skin color and vital signs

 Encourage to increase fluid intake to decrease susceptibility to infection
 Reduce noise in the client environment.
 Look at the client when speaking.
 Speak clearly and firmly on the client without the need to shout.
 Provide good lighting when the client relies on the lips.
 Use the signs of non-verbal (eg facial expressions, pointing, or body movement)
and other communications.
 Encourage to listen to music, have focused breathing, socializing to others or other
diversional activities
 Administer analgesics as ordered by the physician
 Have the child sit up, raise head on pillows, or lie on unaffected ear. Elevation
decreases pressure from fluid.
 Apply heating pad or warm hot water bottle. Heat increases blood supply and
reduces discomfort.
 Have the child/patient chew gum or blow on balloon to relieve pressure in ear.
Attempts to open the eustachian tube may help aerate the middle ear.
 Instruct family or the people closest to the client on how techniques of effective
communication so that they can interact with clients to distract attention and reduce
tension towards pain
 If the client wants, the client can use hearing aids.
 Assess motor and language development at each health care visit. Early detection of
developmental delays can lead to appropriate intervention