Otitis Media and Tympanostomy Tubes.

Acute otitis media (AOM) is an acute infection of the middle ear and, depending on the age of the child, the certainty of diagnosis, and the severity of symptoms, should be either observed closely or treated (with high-dose amoxicillin, if not allergic). Host-related risk factors such as age, sex, cleft palate, or genetic predisposition or environmental risk factors such as seasonality, day care attendance, or tobacco smoke exposure may contribute to recurrent AOM (RAOM) episodes. Tympanostomy tubes are recommended in children with RAOM and an abnormal ear examination at the time of the clinic evaluation.