Acute otitis media is most commonly preceded by which condition?

Acute otitis media is most commonly preceded by a viral upper respiratory infection. This is primarily due to the anatomy and physiology of the ear, nose, and throat in children. When a child experiences a viral upper respiratory infection, it can lead to inflammation and swelling of the nasal passages and the Eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to the back of the throat.

This swelling can trap fluid in the middle ear, creating an environment conducive to bacterial overgrowth and subsequent infection. The nasopharynx, where upper respiratory infections often manifest, is also the primary pathway through which pathogens can reach the middle ear. This connection explains why episodes of viral upper respiratory infections frequently precede the development of acute otitis media in pediatric patients, making it the most common preceding condition.

Other options, while they might contribute to ear issues, do not have the same direct relationship with the onset of acute otitis media as viral upper respiratory infections do.