Question

A toddler with otitis media has just completed antibiotic therapy. A recheck appointment should be made to: A. Determine whether the ear infection has affected her hearing B. Make sure that she has taken all the antibiotic C. Document that the infection has completely cleared D. Obtain a new prescription in case the infection recurs

Short answer

Answer: The primary purpose of a recheck appointment is to document that the infection has completely cleared.

Step-by-step solution

Analyzing the options

We have four options to choose from. Let's analyze each option and determine whether it is the appropriate answer. Option A: Determine whether the ear infection has affected her hearing. This might be important, but it's not the primary reason for follow-up after antibiotic therapy. Option B: Make sure that she has taken all the antibiotic. This may have been done during the treatment process, but the recheck appointment's main purpose is not just to verify the medicine was taken. Option C: Document that the infection has completely cleared. The main goal of an appointment after antibiotic therapy is usually to check if the infection has cleared after treatment. This option seems the most appropriate. Option D: Obtain a new prescription in case the infection recurs. While it's important to be prepared for potential recurrences, the priority of a recheck appointment is not to get a new prescription immediately.

Selecting the correct answer

Based on our analysis of the provided options, Option C (Document that the infection has completely cleared) seems to be the most appropriate answer. The primary purpose of the recheck appointment is to confirm that the antibiotic therapy was successful in treating the infection.