Guidelines
Acute Otitis Media (AOM)

Acute Otitis Media (AOM)

Clinical Considerations

4-10% of children with AOM treated with antibiotics experience adverse effects.

Diagnosis

Either:

  • Moderate or severe bulging of tympanic membrane (TM) or new onset otorrhea NOT due to otitis externa or
  • Mild bulging of the TM AND recent (<48h) onset of otalgia (holding, tugging, rubbing of the ear in a nonverbal child) or intense erythema of the TM
  • Moderate or severe otalgia
  • Otalgia for ≥48 hours
  • Temperature ≥39°C (102.2°F)

AOM should not be diagnosed in children without middle ear effusion (based on pneumatic otoscopy and/or tympanometry).

Additional Information

See references for more details, additional treatment options, and other important information.

  • Lieberthal AS, Carroll AE, Chonmaitree T, et al. The diagnosis and management of acute otitis media. Pediatrics. 2013;131(3): e964-99.
  • Coker TR, Chan LS, Newberry SJ, et al. Diagnosis, microbial epidemiology, and antibiotic treatment of acute otitis media in children: A systematic review. JAMA. 2010;304(19):2161-9.