For Conjunctivitis and Otitis Media, describe the appropriate treatment and identify when to refer children.

Here are the completed questions for each disease:

Conjunctivitis

• Describe the appropriate treatment.
  • Bacterial: Antibiotic eye drops or ointment.
  • Viral: Supportive care (cold compresses, artificial tears), usually self-limiting.
  • Allergic: Antihistamine eye drops, avoiding allergens.
  • General: Good hand hygiene to prevent spread.
• Identify when to refer children with these diseases.
  • Severe eye pain, vision changes, sensitivity to light (photophobia).
  • Corneal involvement (e.g., ulcers).
  • No improvement after initial treatment.
  • Conjunctivitis in a neonate (newborn).
  • Suspected foreign body in the eye.
• Identify other conditions that require referral.
  • Any red eye with pain, vision loss, or photophobia (e.g., keratitis, uveitis).
  • Orbital or periorbital cellulitis (swelling around the eye).
  • Suspected child abuse (e.g., retinal hemorrhages).

Otitis media (acute and chronic)

• Describe the appropriate treatment.
  • Acute Otitis Media (AOM): Pain management (acetaminophen, ibuprofen). Antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin) for severe cases, infants, or no improvement.
  • Otitis Media with Effusion (OME): Monitoring for hearing loss; ventilation tubes for persistent OME with hearing loss or recurrent AOM.
• Identify when to refer children with these diseases.
  • Recurrent AOM (e.g., 3 episodes in 6 months or 4 in 12 months).
  • Persistent OME (e.g., >3 months) with hearing loss or speech delay.
  • Complications such as mastoiditis or facial nerve paralysis.
  • Suspected cholesteatoma.
  • Tympanic membrane perforation that does not heal.
• Identify other conditions that require referral.
  • Mastoiditis (postauricular swelling, redness, pain).
  • Cholesteatoma (skin growth in the middle ear).
  • Significant hearing loss (sensorineural or conductive).
  • Vertigo or balance issues.
  • Facial nerve weakness or paralysis.

Colds and URTI (upper respiratory tract infections)

• Describe the appropriate treatment.
  • Supportive care: Rest, adequate fluids.
  • Symptom relief: Nasal saline drops/spray for congestion, humidifier, acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever/pain.
  • Honey for cough in children over 1 year. Avoid cough/cold medications in young children.
• Identify when to refer children with these diseases.
  • Difficulty breathing (e.g., retractions, rapid breathing, nasal flaring).
  • Persistent high fever, especially in infants.
  • Signs of dehydration (e.g., decreased urination, lethargy).
  • Worsening symptoms or no improvement after several days.
  • Severe sore throat with difficulty swallowing.
  • Lethargy or extreme irritability.
  • Stridor (high-pitched breathing sound).
• Identify other conditions that require referral.
  • Pneumonia (persistent cough, fever, difficulty breathing).
  • Bronchiolitis (wheezing, rapid breathing in infants).
  • Croup (barking cough, stridor).
  • Asthma exacerbation.
  • Epiglottitis (sudden onset high fever, drooling, difficulty swallowing).
  • Foreign body aspiration.