A 5-year-old boy presents with a fever and right ear pain. He also complains of feeling fullness in the ear and reports hearing "noises" in it. On examination, the right tympanic membrane is red and bulging. What is the likely diagnosis and treatment?
The presentation is consistent with acute otitis media (AOM). The feeling of fullness and the "noises" (likely tinnitus) can be due to the middle ear effusion associated with the infection. Treatment involves pain management, often with over-the-counter analgesics, and antibiotics. Amoxicillin is typically the first-line choice, unless the child is allergic.