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Patients - Infection
Acute Otitis Media |
Pharyngitis / Tonsillitis
| Urinary Tract Infection
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Uncomplicated Gonorrhea
| Bronchitis
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Acute Otitis Media Frequently Asked Questions about Acute Otitis Media |
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| What is Acute Otitis Media? | |||||||||||||
| Acute Otitis Media refers to infection of the middle ear. The ear consists of 3 parts, the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear and the middle ear are separated by a thin membrane called the eardrum. The middle ear is connected to the side of the throat by a short tube called the Eustachian tube. Dysfunction of the Eustachian tube leads to spread of infections from the throat to the middle ear. | |||||||||||||
| How does my child catch Acute Otitis Media? | |||||||||||||
| Acute Otitis Media usually follows an infection of the throat. A throat infection is usually caused by germs (bacteria or viruses) that enter through the nose or the mouth and ascend the eustachian tube to reach the middle ear. These germs are usually spread in the air by other children or adults who have these conditions. | |||||||||||||
| What are the risk factors for Acute Otitis Media? | |||||||||||||
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| What are the symptoms of Acute Otitis Media? | |||||||||||||
| Young children with Acute Otitis Media may present with: | |||||||||||||
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| An older child may complain of: | |||||||||||||
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| How is Acute Otitis Media diagnosed? | |||||||||||||
| This infection is usually diagnosed by your doctor by a physical examination of the ear. Your physician may take a specimen for further analysis. | |||||||||||||
| How is Acute Otitis Media treated? | |||||||||||||
Acute Otitis Media may be caused by bacteria or viruses. Your doctor may be able to tell the likely cause of the infection. If the infection is caused by viruses, then your doctor may not prescribe an antibiotic. In this case, symptomatic treatment is required till the virus runs it's course (usually 3-5 days). Symptomatic treatment usually consists of over-the-counter medicines that relieve fever and pain. If the infection is caused by bacteria, antibiotics may be prescribed by your doctor. However, antibiotics do not treat fever and pain that may frequently be present with infections directly. For these symptoms it is important to use over-the-counter fever and pain medicines. |
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| What are the complications of Acute Otitis Media? | |||||||||||||
| If left untreated, Acute Otitis Media can result in serious complications such as: | |||||||||||||
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| How can I prevent Acute Otitis Media from occurring in the future? | |||||||||||||
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Gonorrhea
Frequently Asked Questions About Gonorrhea1,2 |
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| What is gonorrhea?1 | |||||||||||||
| Gonorrhea is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease that is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhea. The CDC estimates that more than 700,000 people are infected with gonorrhea each year.1 | |||||||||||||
| How does one get gonorrhea?1,2 | |||||||||||||
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Sexual activity: through contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus1 | ||||||||||||
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From mother to baby: during delivery1 | ||||||||||||
| The highest rates of infection are among 15- to 19-year-old women and 20- to 24-year-old men. | |||||||||||||
| What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?1 | |||||||||||||
| Men | |||||||||||||
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Pain or burning sensation when urinating | ||||||||||||
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White, yellow, or green discharge from the penis | ||||||||||||
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Painful or swollen testicles | ||||||||||||
| Symptoms may appear a few days after infection, a month or more after infection, or not at all. | |||||||||||||
| Women | |||||||||||||
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Painful or burning sensation when urinating | ||||||||||||
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Increased vaginal discharge | ||||||||||||
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Vaginal bleeding between periods | ||||||||||||
| Many women have no symptoms or mild symptoms that are often mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. | |||||||||||||
| How is gonorrhea diagnosed?1 | |||||||||||||
| Laboratory tests are available at doctors’ offices and some clinics. | |||||||||||||
| How is gonorrhea treated? | |||||||||||||
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Antibiotics are available to successfully cure the infection. Because the gonorrhea bacterium has
become resistant to some antibiotics, the CDC currently recommends treatment with a class of drugs
called cephalosporins, specifically ceftriaxone 125 mg single intramuscular dose or cefixime 400 mg
(single oral dose), available as Suprax® 400-mg tablets.3
Treatment is very important to avoid potentially serious and permanent complications from this infection, such as1,2: |
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In women: pelvic inflammatory disease | ||||||||||||
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In men: epididymitis, a painful condition of the testicle ducts that may lead to infertility if untreated | ||||||||||||
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In men and women: an infection that spreads to the blood or joints, which can be life-threatening | ||||||||||||
| Many people with gonorrhea also have another STD, so anyone with gonorrhea should be tested for other STDs.1,2 | |||||||||||||
| How can gonorrhea be prevented?1 | |||||||||||||
| Abstaining from sexual activity or staying in a monogamous relationship with an uninfected person is the only way to completely avoid the transmission of gonorrhea. The proper use of latex condoms may also reduce the spread of this disease. Sexual partners of people diagnosed with gonorrhea should be tested and treated, if necessary, to help prevent further transmission.1,2 | |||||||||||||
| References: 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gonorrhea—CDC Fact Sheet. www.cdc.gov/std/Gonorrhea/STDFactgonorrhea. htm. 2. Mayo Clinic. Gonorrhea. www.mayoclinic.com/health/gonorrhea/DS00180. 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Update to CDC’s Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment Guidelines, 2006: fluoroquinolones no longer recommended for treatment of gonococcal infections. MMWR. 2007;56:332-336. | |||||||||||||