BEWARE of OVERDIAGNOSIS
** Usually abrupt onset, not gradual
** Tympanic Membrane (TM) is bulging; can’t see landmarks- This is the main parameter for Dx
- May be red, not necessarily
- Red TM alone is NOT enough to Dx “OM”
- ear drainage, sometimes blood-tinged
See posting Ear Pain.
Some Pictures [copied from main posting in Blog]
1. Called “incipient OM” by wikimedia; I’m not convinced, though there is some bulging in the upper TM above the quite-prominent landmark (note that the peripheral redness is in canal).
- upload.wikimedia.org
2. Not completely convinced here below either that the right ear is infected vs. the left. But it probably is, because the landmark is a little more obscured, & the lower part of the TM seems to bulge. Ignore the redness.
3. Two Left ears here [different patients, obviously]; the one on our right is bulging out to obscure the landmarks (OM for sure).
- pedisurg.com
Once again, please don’t focus on color. What really matters is if the TM (or maybe part of the TM) is bulging! In my mind, no bulging = no otits.
DiagnosisDude 