Interactive Demo On Diagnosis of Ear Infection Led By Expert From Children's Hospital Of Pittsburgh

Main Category: Conferences
Also Included In: Ear, Nose and Throat;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 11 Oct 2006 - 4:00 PDT

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A Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh pediatrician is leading national efforts to improve the diagnosis and treatment of one of the most common infections of childhood through innovate training methods.

Middle ear infection, also known as acute otitis media (AOM), is the pediatric illness for which antibiotics are most often prescribed. Three out of four children will experience an ear infection by age 3. However, diagnosis remains difficult and experts often are divided on treatment options, according to Alejandro Hoberman, MD, chief of the Division of General Academic Pediatrics at Children's.

Dr. Hoberman will lead a unique and interactive discussion on how to accurately diagnose and treat AOM at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006, at Children's. His presentation is titled "Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Otitis Media: Can We Agree?"

His dynamic presentation will involve active participation by audience members and include discussion on adequate diagnosis and treatment. The Continuing Medical Education (CME) event also will be available via live Web cast through Children's Web site at http://www.chp.edu/.

"Ear infections affect the vast majority of children, yet they can be difficult to diagnose and clinicians not always agree on adequate treatment. Experts remained divided between the so-called 'watchful waiting' approach and treatment with antibiotics," said Dr. Hoberman, also the Jack L. Paradise Endowed Professor in Pediatric Research at Children's and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "Our projects will help improve accuracy in making the diagnosis and help determine which treatment approach works best."

Dr. Hoberman's research contributions include various randomized clinical trials evaluating diagnosis, management and prevention of AOM. He has developed multimedia educational programs aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy in children with AOM. Together with Phillip Kaleida, MD, another Children's pediatrician, Dr. Hoberman developed a program, ePROM (enhancing PRoficiency in Otitis Media) which was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Association of American Medical Colleges. This program has helped to train students, medical residents and practitioners across the country in the diagnosis of AOM.

Dr. Hoberman also will discuss various prevention and management clinical trials conducted at Children's in children with AOM, and present a recently funded National Institutes of Health study that will evaluate the efficacy of antibiotics in young children with ear infections.

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Contact: Marc Lukasiak
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

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