Ace Your Bachelor of Health Science Test 2025 – Heal the World, One Step at a Time!

Otitis media, which is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear, commonly presents with specific signs and symptoms in children. The combination of fever and earache is particularly indicative of this condition.

Fever often occurs as the child's immune system responds to the infection, while earache results from the pressure and pain caused by fluid buildup and inflammation in the ear. These symptoms are compelling because they directly correlate with the typical pathophysiology of otitis media, where the child's discomfort is primarily localized to the ear and accompanied by systemic signs of infection such as fever.

Other options include symptoms more associated with different conditions. For instance, coughing and runny nose are common in respiratory infections, while rash and irritability could suggest a range of other issues but are not specific to ear infections. Similarly, vomiting and diarrhea might indicate gastrointestinal problems rather than otitis media. Therefore, the combination of fever and earache clearly highlights otitis media as the most likely diagnosis in a child exhibiting these symptoms.