Case and Discussion

A 21-year-old woman comes to your office with a 2-day history of right ear pain. She reports that the ear pain began shortly after taking scuba diving lessons. She describes the pain as “a pressure” and also notes “crackling” in the right ear and periodically feeling dizzy.

Please answer the questions below in the discussion board response.

• What other associated symptoms should you ask about?
• How does the time course help to distinguish among different causes of ear pain?
• How does the age of the patient help with narrowing the diagnostic possibilities?
• What diagnostic tests do you want to include to help you with your diagnosis?
• Create a differential diagnosis flowsheet for this patient and include the diagnostics as well as the pharmacological management and rationale related to the differentials.