ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA APEDIATRIC AND MICROBIAL CHALLENGE

Acute otitis media (AOM) the most common bacterial infection in children worldwide. Common pathogens are mainly Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilis influenza, Moraxxella catarrahalis and the respiratory viruses. Race and ethnicity provide additional data suggesting a genetic basis for recurrent middle ear infections. An increased incidence of AOM occurs in children with Down syndrome and in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Amoxicillin in high dose is the drug of choice in AOM, but ineffective in beta-lactamase producing pathogens. Alternatives to amoxicillin include amoxicillin-clavulanate and cephalosporin. Some children with AOM caused by bacterial pathogens improve without the use of antimicrobial agents. In one study showed that antibiotic treatment did not improve the rate of recovery of patients.