[Acute otitis media in childhood].

Because of its distinct anatomy, pathogens can quickly reach the middle ear of a child and cause acute otitis media. Depending on the age of the child, the clinical symptoms can vary from intense earaches, fever, pressure sensation and hearing loss to vomiting, diarrhea and refusal of food by infants. The progression of otitis media through four phases can be observed in an otoscopic examination. To improve Eustachian tube ventilation in uncomplicated cases, nose drops to reduce swelling along with pain therapy are employed first. Antibiotics can be administered to reduce the rate of complications from, for example, mastoiditis, paresis of the facial nerve, and labyrinthitis. In recurrent middle ear infections, an operative therapy should also be considered.