Management of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media

Acute otitis media is one of the most common indications for both seeking medical care and prescribing antibiotics for children.1 The disorder is attributable to eustachian-tube dysfunction, which is most often caused by viral upper respiratory infections, and its prevalence is highest in children between 6 and 12 months of age.2 Young children who have a first episode of acute otitis media early in life (<12 months) are susceptible to the development of recurrent acute otitis media — defined as the occurrence of at least three episodes of acute otitis media within 6 months or four episodes within 12 months, . . .