Saskia Hullegie

Incidence, microbiology and management of acute otitis media and ear discharge in primary care

Samenvatting

Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common childhood infection, often leading to doctor visits and antibiotic prescriptions. Approximately 15-20% of children with AOM experience ear discharge (AOMd), but acute ear discharge does not indicate improvement. This thesis provides insight into the incidence, microbiology, and management of AOM(d) in primary care. Chapter 2.1 reports a 63% decrease in AOM consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chapter 2.2 shows stable AOM incidence in adults. Chapter 3 identifies common bacteria in AOMd discharge. Chapter 4 discusses a trial comparing antibiotic-corticosteroid eardrops to oral antibiotics in. Chapter 5 demonstrates no significant differences in gut microbiota composition. Chapter 6 addresses the main findings and implications for future research.