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ICON Health Publications Official Health Sourcebooks |
The Official Parent's Sourcebook
on
OTITIS MEDIA
(Acute ear infection; acute Middle ear infection; Acute otitis media; Acute suppurative otitis media; Chronic Ear infection; Chronic External ear infection; Chronic otitis externa; Chronic otitis media; Glue ear; inner ear infection; Malignant otitis externa; Middle ear infection - chronic; Purulent otitis media; Secretory otitis media; Serous otitis media; Silent ear infection; Silent otitis media; Swimmer's ear - chronic)
Revised and Updated for the Internet Age
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Pages | : | 448 |
Price | : | $28.95(USD) |
ISBN | : | 0597841977 |
Published | : | 2004 |
Synopsis | |
A comprehensive manual for anyone interested in self-directed research on otitis media. Fully referenced with ample Internet listings and glossary. |
Related Conditions/Synonyms | |
Acute ear infection; acute Middle ear infection; Acute otitis media; Acute suppurative otitis media; Chronic Ear infection; Chronic External ear infection; Chronic otitis externa; Chronic otitis media; Glue ear; inner ear infection; Malignant otitis externa; Middle ear infection - chronic; Purulent otitis media; Secretory otitis media; Serous otitis media; Silent ear infection; Silent otitis media; Swimmer's ear - chronic |
Description |
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This book has been created for parents who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it also gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health professionals, it tells parents where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to otitis media (also Acute ear infection; acute Middle ear infection; Acute otitis media; Acute suppurative otitis media; Chronic Ear infection; Chronic External ear infection), from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. The title of this book includes the word official. This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on otitis media. Given parents' increasing sophistication in using the Internet, abundant references to reliable Internet-based resources are provided throughout this sourcebook. Where possible, guidance is provided on how to obtain free-of-charge, primary research results as well as more detailed information via the Internet. E-book and electronic versions of this sourcebook are fully interactive with each of the Internet sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser to the site indicated). Hard-copy users of this sourcebook can type cited Web addresses directly into their browsers to obtain access to the corresponding sites. In addition to extensive references accessible via the Internet, chapters include glossaries of technical or uncommon terms. |
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Table of Contents |
Introduction Overview Organization Scope Moving Forward PART I: THE ESSENTIALS Chapter 1. The Essentials on Otitis Media: Guidelines Overview What Is Otitis Media? Are There Different Types of Otitis Media? How Does Otitis Media Happen? What’s Happening Inside the Ear When My Child Has an Ear Infection? Can Otitis Media Affect My Child’s Hearing? How Do I Know If My Child Has Otitis Media? What Will a Doctor Do? How Can I Be Sure I Am Giving the Medicine Correctly? Will My Child Need Surgery? What about Children in Daycare, Pre-School, or School? What Else Can I Do for My Child? How Can I Get More Information? More Guideline Sources Vocabulary Builder Chapter 2. Seeking Guidance Overview Finding Associations Finding Doctors Finding an Otolaryngologist Selecting Your Child’s Doctor Working with Your Child’s Doctor Broader Health-Related Resources Vocabulary Builder Chapter 3. Clinical Trials and Otitis Media Overview Recent Trials on Otitis Media Benefits and Risks Keeping Current on Clinical Trials General References Vocabulary Builder PART II: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ADVANCED MATERIAL Chapter 4. Studies on Otitis Media Overview The Combined Health Information Database Federally Funded Research on Otitis Media E-Journals: PubMed Central The National Library of Medicine: PubMed Vocabulary Builder Chapter 5. Patents on Otitis Media Overview Patents on Otitis Media Patent Applications on Otitis Media Keeping Current Vocabulary Builder Chapter 6. Books on Otitis Media Overview Book Summaries: Federal Agencies Book Summaries: Online Booksellers Chapters on Otitis Media General Home References Chapter 7. Multimedia on Otitis Media Overview Video Recordings Chapter 8. Periodicals and News on Otitis Media Overview News Services and Press Releases Newsletter Articles Chapter 9. Physician Guidelines and Databases Overview NIH Guidelines NIH Databases Other Commercial Databases The Genome Project and Otitis Media Specialized References Vocabulary Builder Chapter 10. Dissertations on Otitis Media Overview Dissertations on Otitis Media Keeping Current PART III. APPENDICES Appendix A. Researching Your Child’s Medications Overview Your Child’s Medications: The Basics Learning More about Your Child’s Medications Commercial Databases Contraindications and Interactions (Hidden Dangers) A Final Warning General References Vocabulary Builder Appendix B. Researching Alternative Medicine Overview What Is CAM? What Are the Domains of Alternative Medicine? Can Alternatives Affect My Child’s Treatment? Additional Web Resources General References Vocabulary Builder Appendix C. Researching Nutrition Overview Food and Nutrition: General Principles Finding Studies on Otitis Media Federal Resources on Nutrition Additional Web Resources Vocabulary Builder Appendix D. Finding Medical Libraries Overview Preparation Finding a Local Medical Library Medical Libraries in the U.S. and Canada Appendix E. More on Otitis Media Overview How Do We Hear? Why Are More Children Affected by Otitis Media Than Adults? What Are the Effects of Otitis Media? How Can Someone Tell If a Child Has Otitis Media? Can Anything Be Done to Prevent Otitis Media? How Does a Child’s Physician Diagnose Otitis Media? How Is Otitis Media Treated? What Research Is Being Done on Otitis Media? Where Can I Get Additional Information? Appendix F. More on Infants and Young Children with Hearing Problems Overview Your Baby’s Hearing Checklist Talk to Your Child’s Doctor ONLINE GLOSSARIES Online Dictionary Directories OTITIS MEDIA GLOSSARY General Dictionaries and Glossaries INDEX |
Excerpt (Introduction) |
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Overview Dr. C. Everett Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General, once said, “The best prescription is knowledge.” The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) echoes this view and recommends that all parents incorporate education into the treatment process. According to the AHRQ:
As the AHRQ mentions, finding the right information is not an obvious task. Though many physicians and public officials had thought that the emergence of the Internet would do much to assist parents in obtaining reliable information, in March 2001 the National Institutes of Health issued the following warning:
Since the late 1990s, physicians have seen a general increase in parent Internet usage rates. Parents frequently enter their children’s doctor's offices with printed Web pages of home remedies in the guise of latest medical research. This scenario is so common that doctors often spend more time dispelling misleading information than guiding children through sound therapies. The Official Parent’s Sourcebook on Otitis Media has been created for parents who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. The pages that follow will tell you where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to otitis media, from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. The title of this book includes the word “official.” This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on otitis media. Given parents’ increasing sophistication in using the Internet, abundant references to reliable Internet-based resources are provided throughout this sourcebook. Where possible, guidance is provided on how to obtain free-of-charge, primary research results as well as more detailed information via the Internet. E-book and electronic versions of this sourcebook are fully interactive with each of the Internet sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser to the site indicated). Hard copy users of this sourcebook can type cited Web addresses directly into their browsers to obtain access to the corresponding sites. Since we are working with ICON Health Publications, hard copy Sourcebooks are frequently updated and printed on demand to ensure that the information provided is current. In addition to extensive references accessible via the Internet, every chapter presents a “Vocabulary Builder.” Many health guides offer glossaries of technical or uncommon terms in an appendix. In editing this sourcebook, we have decided to place a smaller glossary within each chapter that covers terms used in that chapter. Given the technical nature of some chapters, you may need to revisit many sections. Building one’s vocabulary of medical terms in such a gradual manner has been shown to improve the learning process. We must emphasize that no sourcebook on otitis media should affirm that a specific diagnostic procedure or treatment discussed in a research study, patent, or doctoral dissertation is “correct” or your child’s best option. This sourcebook is no exception. Each child is unique. Deciding on appropriate options is always up to parents in consultation with their children’s physicians and healthcare providers. Organization This sourcebook is organized into three parts. Part I explores basic techniques to researching otitis media (e.g. finding guidelines on diagnosis, treatments, and prognosis), followed by a number of topics, including information on how to get in touch with organizations, associations, or other parent networks dedicated to otitis media. It also gives you sources of information that can help you find a doctor in your local area specializing in treating otitis media. Collectively, the material presented in Part I is a complete primer on basic research topics for otitis media. Part II moves on to advanced research dedicated to otitis media. Part II is intended for those willing to invest many hours of hard work and study. It is here that we direct you to the latest scientific and applied research on otitis media. When possible, contact names, links via the Internet, and summaries are provided. It is in Part II where the vocabulary process becomes important as authors publishing advanced research frequently use highly specialized language. In general, every attempt is made to recommend “free-to-use” options. Part III provides appendices of useful background reading covering otitis media or related disorders. The appendices are dedicated to more pragmatic issues facing parents. Accessing materials via medical libraries may be the only option for some parents, so a guide is provided for finding local medical libraries which are open to the public. Part III, therefore, focuses on advice that goes beyond the biological and scientific issues facing children with otitis media and their families. Scope While this sourcebook covers otitis media, doctors, research publications, and specialists may refer to your child’s condition using a variety of terms. Therefore, you should understand that otitis media is often considered a synonym or a condition closely related to the following:
In addition to synonyms and related conditions, physicians may refer to otitis media using certain coding systems. The International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) is the most commonly used system of classification for the world's illnesses. Your physician may use this coding system as an administrative or tracking tool. The following classification is commonly used for otitis media:
For the purposes of this sourcebook, we have attempted to be as inclusive as possible, looking for official information for all of the synonyms relevant to otitis media. You may find it useful to refer to synonyms when accessing databases or interacting with healthcare professionals and medical librarians. Moving Forward Since the 1980s, the world has seen a proliferation of healthcare guides covering most illnesses. Some are written by parents, patients, or their family members. These generally take a layperson's approach to understanding and coping with an illness or disorder. They can be uplifting, encouraging, and highly supportive. Other guides are authored by physicians or other healthcare providers who have a more clinical outlook. Each of these two styles of guide has its purpose and can be quite useful. As editors, we have chosen a third route. We have chosen to expose you to as many sources of official and peer-reviewed information as practical, for the purpose of educating you about basic and advanced knowledge as recognized by medical science today. You can think of this sourcebook as your personal Internet age reference librarian. Why “Internet age”? When their child has been diagnosed with otitis media, parents will often log on to the Internet, type words into a search engine, and receive several Web site listings which are mostly irrelevant or redundant. Parents are left to wonder where the relevant information is, and how to obtain it. Since only the smallest fraction of information dealing with otitis media is even indexed in search engines, a non-systematic approach often leads to frustration and disappointment. With this sourcebook, we hope to direct you to the information you need that you would not likely find using popular Web directories. Beyond Web listings, in many cases we will reproduce brief summaries or abstracts of available reference materials. These abstracts often contain distilled information on topics of discussion. While we focus on the more scientific aspects of otitis media, there is, of course, the emotional side to consider. Later in the sourcebook, we provide a chapter dedicated to helping you find parent groups and associations that can provide additional support beyond research produced by medical science. We hope that the choices we have made give you and your child the most options in moving forward. In this way, we wish you the best in your efforts to incorporate this educational approach into your child’s treatment plan. |
Words Defined in the Vocabulary Builders |
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