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Acute otitis media — USMLE Step 3 MCQ

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EasyPediatrics (well-child, chronic management)Acute otitis mediaUSMLE Step 3

A 2-year-old boy has fever and ear pain for 1 day. Otoscopy shows a bulging, erythematous right tympanic membrane with decreased mobility. He has no conjunctivitis, no penicillin allergy, and has not received antibiotics recently. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

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Correct answer: B — Treat with high-dose amoxicillin

Acute otitis media with bulging tympanic membrane in a young child is treated with analgesia and, when antibiotics are chosen, high-dose amoxicillin first-line.

Reference: AAP acute otitis media guideline: https://www.aap.org/