AHN 577 EXAMS SCRIPT 2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+ TIP
✔✔Otitis Externa Tx - ✔✔Gentle suction/removal of debris
Drops
- Polymyxin B/Neomycin/HC (Cortisporin Otic)
- Cipro HC Otics
Cotton gauze if severe edema (remove 2-3 days after insertion)
Warm compresses to outer ear
- Cipro PO per culture
- Aminoglycoside and anti-inflammatories
Corticosteroid (Medrol Dosepak) for edema and pain
Analgesics: Tylenol, NSAIDS, Opioids (Lortab)
50/50 Rubbing alcohol and white vinegar to affected ear as preventative
F/U in 1 week
✔✔Otitis Media SSX - ✔✔Throbbing pain (Otalgia)
Hearing loss - conductive
Vertigo w/ N/V
Otorrhea: pulsatile
TM: retracted, opaque, and dull w/ decreased movement
Bony landmarks obscurred
Occasional bullae
✔✔Otitis Media TX - ✔✔Amoxicillin
PCN allergy: TMP/SMX (Bactrim) or Azithromycin
Cefdinir, Cefuroxime, or Cefpodoxime
W/ perforation: Cortisporin Otic drops
,Analgesics for pain - NSAIDS
✔✔Serous Otitis Media SSX - ✔✔Hearing loss, sense of fullness
Popping Sounds w/ pressure
Air bubbles posterior to TM
Severe pain w/ sudden relief and immediate release of fluid (Tympanic membrane
rupture)
TM: Red, dull and bulging w/ pressure sensation in ear and decreased mobility
Changes in Rinne/Weber test = Conductive hearing loss.
✔✔When to refer patient to ENT for Otitis media - ✔✔If recurrent: 3-4x in 6 months; > 3
months bilat, or > 6 months unilat, or if tympanic membrane perforated, hearing loss of
20 dB or more following TX.
✔✔Serous Otitis media TX - ✔✔Oral Decongestants
✔✔Cholesteatoma (Chronic Otitis media) SSX - ✔✔Hearing loss
Dependent degree of bone erosion
TM retraction
TM perforation
✔✔Cholesteatoma TX - ✔✔SX - Marsupialization or complete removal of sac
✔✔Vertigo SSX - ✔✔Room Spinning
Sensation of falling
N/V, Tinnitus, Hearing loss
✔✔Vertigo TX - ✔✔Diazapam
Antihistamines
- Meclizine
- Cyclizine
✔✔Pharyngitis SSX - ✔✔Sore throat, Dysphagia
Malaise, fever
,Rhinorrhea
Erythematous pharynx, Exudate
Cervical adenopathy
✔✔Pharyngitis DX - ✔✔Throat cultures: Group A, Beta Hemolytic strep
✔✔Pharyngitis TX - Viral - ✔✔OTC analgesics
Warm salt water gargle
Hydration
✔✔Pharyngitis TX - Bacterial - ✔✔PCN or Erythromycin
✔✔Influenza SSX - ✔✔Fever, Chills, HA
Malaise, Myalgia
N/V/Anorexia
Coryza (Inflammation of nasal mucus membrane)
Non-productive cough
Increased pulse/Temp
Clear nasal discharge
✔✔Influenza TX - ✔✔Analgesics and Hydration
Rimantadine
✔✔Mononucleosis SSX - ✔✔Fever, Sore throat
Malaise, anorexia, Myalgia
Posterior cervical chain lymphadenopathy
Tonsil exudate
Splenomegaly and rash
, ✔✔Mononucleosis TX - ✔✔Supportive care
- NSAIDS
- Warm salt water gargle
- Avoid ETOH & Contact sports
Corticosteroids or pencyclovir
✔✔Sinusitis SSX - ✔✔Pain/pressure over sinuses
HA/ toothache
Discolored nasal drainage
Post nasal drip/cough
Pain to palpitation/percussion of sinuses
Decreased transillumination
✔✔Sinusitis DX - ✔✔XR ?
CT
✔✔Sinusitis TX - ✔✔Amoxicillin, Bactrim DS, Cefaclor (Ceclor)
Oxymethaxoline (Afrin)
Guafenesin/Sudafed
✔✔Corneal abrasion - ✔✔Disruption of epithelium of cornea
✔✔Corneal abrasion SSX - ✔✔Intense pain - sensory nerve
Sense of foreign body
Redness/discharge of conjunctiva
Tearing
Photophobia
Decreased visual acuity
✔✔Corneal abrasion TX - ✔✔Anesthetize eye for thorough exam to ensure no foreign
body
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+ TIP
✔✔Otitis Externa Tx - ✔✔Gentle suction/removal of debris
Drops
- Polymyxin B/Neomycin/HC (Cortisporin Otic)
- Cipro HC Otics
Cotton gauze if severe edema (remove 2-3 days after insertion)
Warm compresses to outer ear
- Cipro PO per culture
- Aminoglycoside and anti-inflammatories
Corticosteroid (Medrol Dosepak) for edema and pain
Analgesics: Tylenol, NSAIDS, Opioids (Lortab)
50/50 Rubbing alcohol and white vinegar to affected ear as preventative
F/U in 1 week
✔✔Otitis Media SSX - ✔✔Throbbing pain (Otalgia)
Hearing loss - conductive
Vertigo w/ N/V
Otorrhea: pulsatile
TM: retracted, opaque, and dull w/ decreased movement
Bony landmarks obscurred
Occasional bullae
✔✔Otitis Media TX - ✔✔Amoxicillin
PCN allergy: TMP/SMX (Bactrim) or Azithromycin
Cefdinir, Cefuroxime, or Cefpodoxime
W/ perforation: Cortisporin Otic drops
,Analgesics for pain - NSAIDS
✔✔Serous Otitis Media SSX - ✔✔Hearing loss, sense of fullness
Popping Sounds w/ pressure
Air bubbles posterior to TM
Severe pain w/ sudden relief and immediate release of fluid (Tympanic membrane
rupture)
TM: Red, dull and bulging w/ pressure sensation in ear and decreased mobility
Changes in Rinne/Weber test = Conductive hearing loss.
✔✔When to refer patient to ENT for Otitis media - ✔✔If recurrent: 3-4x in 6 months; > 3
months bilat, or > 6 months unilat, or if tympanic membrane perforated, hearing loss of
20 dB or more following TX.
✔✔Serous Otitis media TX - ✔✔Oral Decongestants
✔✔Cholesteatoma (Chronic Otitis media) SSX - ✔✔Hearing loss
Dependent degree of bone erosion
TM retraction
TM perforation
✔✔Cholesteatoma TX - ✔✔SX - Marsupialization or complete removal of sac
✔✔Vertigo SSX - ✔✔Room Spinning
Sensation of falling
N/V, Tinnitus, Hearing loss
✔✔Vertigo TX - ✔✔Diazapam
Antihistamines
- Meclizine
- Cyclizine
✔✔Pharyngitis SSX - ✔✔Sore throat, Dysphagia
Malaise, fever
,Rhinorrhea
Erythematous pharynx, Exudate
Cervical adenopathy
✔✔Pharyngitis DX - ✔✔Throat cultures: Group A, Beta Hemolytic strep
✔✔Pharyngitis TX - Viral - ✔✔OTC analgesics
Warm salt water gargle
Hydration
✔✔Pharyngitis TX - Bacterial - ✔✔PCN or Erythromycin
✔✔Influenza SSX - ✔✔Fever, Chills, HA
Malaise, Myalgia
N/V/Anorexia
Coryza (Inflammation of nasal mucus membrane)
Non-productive cough
Increased pulse/Temp
Clear nasal discharge
✔✔Influenza TX - ✔✔Analgesics and Hydration
Rimantadine
✔✔Mononucleosis SSX - ✔✔Fever, Sore throat
Malaise, anorexia, Myalgia
Posterior cervical chain lymphadenopathy
Tonsil exudate
Splenomegaly and rash
, ✔✔Mononucleosis TX - ✔✔Supportive care
- NSAIDS
- Warm salt water gargle
- Avoid ETOH & Contact sports
Corticosteroids or pencyclovir
✔✔Sinusitis SSX - ✔✔Pain/pressure over sinuses
HA/ toothache
Discolored nasal drainage
Post nasal drip/cough
Pain to palpitation/percussion of sinuses
Decreased transillumination
✔✔Sinusitis DX - ✔✔XR ?
CT
✔✔Sinusitis TX - ✔✔Amoxicillin, Bactrim DS, Cefaclor (Ceclor)
Oxymethaxoline (Afrin)
Guafenesin/Sudafed
✔✔Corneal abrasion - ✔✔Disruption of epithelium of cornea
✔✔Corneal abrasion SSX - ✔✔Intense pain - sensory nerve
Sense of foreign body
Redness/discharge of conjunctiva
Tearing
Photophobia
Decreased visual acuity
✔✔Corneal abrasion TX - ✔✔Anesthetize eye for thorough exam to ensure no foreign
body
