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Perforated eardrum/chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM)

PAEDIATRIC

Minimum Referral Criteria

  • Category 1
    (appointment within 30 calendar days)
    • No category 1 criteria
  • Category 2
    (appointment within 90 calendar days)
    • Perforated tympanic membrane and any of the following:
      • ongoing pain
      • persistent drainage from the middle ear for > 6 weeks despite topical antibiotics
      • significant hearing loss 45dB or greater better ear
    • Children with physical/structural/ medical comorbidities e.g. cleft palate, craniofacial abnormalities, diabetes, SNHL
  • Category 3
    (appointment within 365 calendar days)
    • Failure of dry perforation to heal after 2 months
    • All non-acute long-term perforated ear drums
    • Bilateral dry perforation with mild hearing loss and no pain

1. Reason for request Indicate on the referral

  • To establish a diagnosis
  • For treatment or intervention
  • For advice and management
  • For specialist to take over management
  • Reassurance for GP/second opinion
  • For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
  • Reassurance for the patient/family
  • For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
  • Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

2. Essential referral information Referral will be returned without this

  • Medical management to date

3. Additional referral information Useful for processing the referral

  • Ear swab M/C/S results
  • Diagnostic audiology assessment results (Highly desirable where available and not cause significant delay)
  • Results of Health Assessment for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People

4. Request

Last updated: 13 June 2023