Earache

This chapter explores the case of Janice, a 3-year-old preschool child, who is presented to the primary care office with a complaint of left ear pain for 2 days. The pain is worse sometimes when she is lying down. The pain is occasionally relieved with the use of over-the-counter pain relievers. Her appetite has decreased over the past 2 days since the ear pain began. She has been taking over-the-counter pain relievers/antipyretics to relieve symptoms associated with ear pain. The chapter provides essential guidance and information for understanding how to diagnose and manage this case. This includes differential diagnosis and a series of critical thinking questions ideal for family nurse practitioner.