Acute Otitis Media Nursing Management
What is Otitis Media Disease?
Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear that causes inflammation (redness and swelling) and a buildup of fluid behind the eardrum. Some common symptoms of otitis media disease are irritability, feeling of fullness in the ear, ear pain, crying, neck pain, pulling on the ears, headache, sleeplessness, etc.
Nursing Management of Acute Otitis Media Disease:
Several nursing interventions for the otitis media disease have pointed out in the following:
- Antibiotic therapy (amoxicillin, erythromycin, cephalosporin’s) for 10-15 days to be given to reduce the chance of complications.
- Other measures include symptomatic treatment with analgesics, antipyretics, decongestants, and local heat application.
- Does may vary according to the severity of infections.
- Aspiration of the middle ear (tympanocentesis) or tympanostomy may be needed in severe pain to drain the middle area collection.
- Discharge from the ear should be cleaned aseptically to keep the area dry.
- Use the pain rating scale appropriately for age.
- Inspire to increase fluid intake to reduce susceptibility to infection.
- Have to speak firmly and clearly on the client without the necessity to shout.
- When the client relies on the lips, provide good lighting.
- Antihistamines and local antibiotic ear drops have little value in the management of AOM.
- Complications should be detected early for appropriate treatment.
- Determine pain characteristics through the client’s description.
- Monitor skin color and vital signs.
- Reduce noise in the client environment.
- Look at the client when speaking.
- Have to use the signs of non-verbal (e.g. body movement, facial expressions) and the other communications.
- Administer analgesics as ordered by the physician.
- Have the child or patient chew gum or blow on the balloon to relieve pressure in the ear. Endeavor to open the Eustachian tube may help aerate the middle ear.
- The client can use hearing aids if the client wants.
- At each health care visit evaluate motor and language development. Early detection of improvement delays may lead to appropriate intervention.
- Encourage to listen to music, have focused breathing, socializing with others, or other activities.
- Apply the heating pad or warm hot water bottle. Heat increases blood supply and reduces discomfort.
- Instruct family or the people closest to the client on how techniques of effective communication so that they can interact with the clients to distract attention and reduce tension toads pain.
More questions related to this article:
- What is otitis media disease?
- What do you mean by otitis media?
- Describe the nursing management of otitis media disease.
- Describe the nursing management of acute otitis media disease.
- Describe the nursing management of chronic otitis media disease.
- Describe the nursing management guidelines of chronic otitis media disease.
- Describe the nursing management guidelines of acute otitis media disease.
- Describe the nursing management guideline of otitis media disease.
Maria Khatun Mona is a Founder and Editor of Nursing Exercise Blog. She is a Nursing and Midwifery Expert. Currently she is working as a Registered Nurse at Evercare Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. She has great passion in writing different articles on Nursing and Midwifery. Mail her at “maria.mona023@gmail.com”