Air–fluid Level in Surgery — 7yo Child | ENT | SMLE Q#12359
SMLE Question #12359
Surgery
ENT
Objective: OBJ-ENT-POSTOP-BLEED
Last updated: February 2026
A 7-year-old boy is brought for evaluation because his teacher reports he often asks others to repeat themselves and seems inattentive. There is no ear pain, fever, or recent upper respiratory symptoms. Speech and language development have been normal, and there is no history of recurrent acute otitis media. Otoscopy of the right ear shows a dull, retracted tympanic membrane with an air–fluid level; the left ear is normal. Bedside testing suggests mild conductive hearing loss, with no mastoid tenderness. What is the most appropriate initial management?
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