Otitis Media Treatment for a School-Aged Patient Essay

Assessment of Data

Subjective

A 10-year-old female reports ear pain that has worsened during the past three days. Fever and discharge from the ear are not observed. A good appetite is present. The patient does not provide a clear description of pain expect, stating that it is of a reproducible character. Still, the decision to take baby aspirin to relieve the pain was made and proved that the patient suffered from severe for her age pain. In the past year, she used an oral antibiotic to deal with her otitis media. She also takes an asthma inhaler regularly.

Regarding the past medical history of recurrent otitis media, seasonal allergies, and the fact that she took swimming activities in her summer camp regularly, it is possible to say that the patient has otitis externa. As an ARNP, I should proceed with the case through the evaluation of the current condition of the patient, their awareness about recurrent diseases, and define the level of parental involvement in this family. This case will be based on the overview of otitis media and treatment options for a school-aged patient.Otitis Media Treatment for a School-Aged Patient Essay

Otitis Externa

Otitis externa is a type of inflammation that is usually characterized by the presence of infection in the external auditory canal or the auricle. Ear canals are red and swollen, and discharge may be present but not always (Hoberman et al., 2016). Otitis externa is also known as swimmer’s ear because it is caused by such bacteria as Staphylococcus epidermis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa that are usually found in water (Gore, 2018). A virus may also cause this type of otitis. Still, these cases are rare. In addition to fever and pain, the main symptoms of this disease are itching, redness, and a feeling of discomfort. Symptoms of onset are about 48 hours (Gore, 2018). Clinical diagnosis is based on the patient’s history and physical examination. It is important to find out if the patient has recently got any traumas or tried some unusual practices that may influence the ears.Otitis Media Treatment for a School-Aged Patient Essay

Treatment Plan

Goals

The main goal of treatment for a child is to reduce the level of pain and find a true cause of her worsened condition. Antimicrobial resistance can be a problem for many children (Hoberman et al., 2016). Therefore, the aim of treatment is not to overuse antibiotics, but make sure the patient deals with pain independently. Regarding the clinical practice guidelines developed by Rosenfeld et al. (2014), a treatment plan should include an appropriate aural toilet, antiseptic and antibiotic drops, oral antibiotics, and analgesics.Otitis Media Treatment for a School-Aged Patient Essay

Prescriptions

Ofloxacin 0.3% should be given once daily to fight the bacteria, and hydrocortisone 1.0% to deal with the infection and reduce the redness should be taken 3 times daily (Rosenfeld et al., 2014). Hydrocortisone may also be in the form of a cream (1 g). The choice of antibiotics depends on such factors as the patient’s allergies and resistance. Two weeks is the required treatment period.

Adverse Reactions

Blurred vision, anxiety, dizziness, and dry mouth may bother patients of different groups. Sometimes, young patients experience a headache and heartbeats.

Interactions: Drug-drug

The combination of the chosen drugs is not characterized by some negative outcomes. Doctors support the idea of using this antibiotic and a steroid to deal with the complications of external otitis.

Drug-food

No negative reactions to the chosen medications are observed in terms of taking food.