Which medication should a nurse administer to a 4-month-old child with acute otitis media and a fever of 38.3 C?

In the case of a 4-month-old child with acute otitis media and a fever, the administration of amoxicillin is appropriate if the child's condition warrants antibiotic therapy. Acute otitis media is often caused by bacterial infections, especially in young children. If the child exhibits moderate to severe symptoms or has been symptomatic for at least 48 hours, amoxicillin is typically the first-line antibiotic recommended due to its effectiveness against the most common pathogens causing this infection.

The decision to use amoxicillin also aligns with guidelines suggesting that antibiotics be prescribed when the child's presentation indicates a bacterial infection rather than a viral one, particularly given the age of the child and the presence of fever. Therefore, initiating treatment with amoxicillin allows for targeting the underlying infection while providing relief from symptoms associated with acute otitis media.

In contrast, while acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be used for symptomatic relief of fever and pain, they do not address the underlying bacterial infection and would only provide temporary comfort rather than treating the cause of the fever and ear pain. Cephalexin is not typically the first choice for acute otitis media unless there are specific factors, such as allergy to penicillin; it is usually reserved for cases where resistance is suspected or if the