[Acute otitis media in children].

Acute otitis media (A.O.M.) occurs mainly in children. The first peak of this disease appears between 6-18 month of life, and the second between 4-7 year of age. The younger age at which the first A.O.M. incidence is noted, the higher probability of its recurrence. In Poland 65% of children up to the 2 year of age suffer from otitis media once, and 30% more than three times. The portal of infection in a.o.m. comprises: (1) Eustachian tube (2) Blood vessels (3) External auditory meatus with perforated tympanic membrane. In ca. 30% of a.o.m. the causative agents are viruses, while in 70% the disease is due to bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae in 30-40%, Haemophilus influenzae ca. 20%, Moraxella catarrhalis 10-15%). A.O.M. is diagnosed basing on history, but mainly using otoscopic examination. Regarding different ear anatomy in infants, otoscopic examination may cause many difficulties. In A.O.M. due to possible dehiscence in tegmen tympani or antri may occur meningismus, and dehiscence in the facial nerve canal can occur facial nerve paresis. The treatment of choice is tympanocentesis and administration of amoxycillin in the dose of 40 mg/kg b.w. daily. After recovery, the examination of upper respiratory tract patency should be performed and following that the evaluation of the ear should be continued.