EAR INFECTIONS — Know the Pattern, Find the Site Ear disease becomes… — AMC MCQ exam Prep by Dr Jayse — TG.ME

👂 EAR INFECTIONS — Know the Pattern, Find the Site Ear disease becomes much easier when you ask one question first: Where is the pathology? ⸻ 1️⃣ Acute Otitis Media Middle-ear infection, often following a viral URTI. Ear pain, fever and a bulging, erythematous tympanic membrane. Common organisms: S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. catarrhalis. ⸻ 2️⃣ Otitis Externa Infection of the external auditory canal, commonly associated with water exposure. Classically causes pain when the tragus is pressed or pinna is pulled. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important organism. ⚠️ In older patients with diabetes, severe persistent otalgia may suggest malignant otitis externa. ⸻ 3️⃣ Bullous Myringitis Painful bullae on the tympanic membrane. Presents with severe otalgia and may accompany acute otitis media. ⸻ 4️⃣ Mastoiditis Complication of middle-ear infection spreading into the mastoid air cells. Look for post-auricular pain, redness and swelling with displacement of the pinna. Requires urgent assessment and IV antibiotics. ⸻ 5️⃣ Cholesteatoma Not a true infection — an abnormal keratinizing epithelial mass in the middle ear. Think of recurrent painless, often foul-smelling discharge with conductive hearing loss. Definitive treatment is usually surgical. 💡 Clinical Pearl: Pain on tragal movement → Otitis externa Bulging tympanic membrane → Acute otitis media Post-auricular swelling → Mastoiditis Painless recurrent discharge + hearing loss → Cholesteatoma Explore our high-yield medical books for concise, visual and exam-focused revision: Aumedprep.com.au