How to Determine if It's Otitis Media

To determine whether it is otitis media, the following aspects can be considered: 1. Clinical symptoms: Common symptoms of otitis media include ear pain, fever, hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear discharge (such as fluid or pus). Ear pain, particularly, is often seen in the early stages of acute suppurative otitis media; the pain may lessen after the eardrum perforates. Additionally, some patients may also experience a feeling of ear fullness and symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection (such as cough, runny nose, and sore throat). 2. Medical examination: Doctors may use an otoscope to examine hearing and the movement of the eardrum to identify signs of otitis media. Further examinations may include otoscopy, which allows visualization of the presence of purulent discharge in the ear canal and whether the eardrum is perforated. Tympanocentesis can confirm the presence of fluid accumulation in the middle ear and is the preferred method for diagnosing otitis media.