A patient using ciprofloxacin ear drops who develops a skin rash should stop the drops and contact the provider.
Correct Answer
True
True. A rash can be the first sign of a hypersensitivity reaction, and the labeling for ciprofloxacin otic products says to stop the drops at the first sign of rash or other allergic reaction. The patient seeks emergency care for facial swelling or trouble breathing.
Category: Otic Anti-infectives
Question 2
Earbuds and hearing aids that sit in the ear canal can worsen otitis externa.
Correct Answer
True
True. Devices in the canal trap moisture and irritate the skin, which can worsen or prolong outer ear infection, so they are often limited while the canal heals.
Category: Ear Anatomy and Disorders
Question 3
Antibiotics are not routinely given for otitis media with effusion when no active infection is present.
Correct Answer
True
True. When fluid remains behind the eardrum without signs of acute infection, antibiotics do not help; the fluid often clears on its own and the child's hearing is monitored.
Category: Ear Anatomy and Disorders
Question 4
Hearing loss caused by an ototoxic drug may be permanent even after the drug is stopped.
Correct Answer
True
True. Drugs such as aminoglycosides and cisplatin can destroy inner ear hair cells, which do not regrow, so hearing may not recover after the drug is stopped. Early reporting of ringing or fullness matters.
Category: Ototoxicity
Question 5
The outer ear canal normally clears earwax on its own, and the wax helps protect the canal.
Correct Answer
True
True. Earwax traps dust and microbes and moisturizes the canal, and jaw movement and skin migration carry it outward, so routine removal is not needed.
Category: Cerumenolytics
Question 6
Ear pain from acute otitis media is treated with an oral analgesic such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, even when an antibiotic is also given.
Correct Answer
True
True. An antibiotic takes time to act and does not relieve pain right away, so pain control with acetaminophen or ibuprofen is part of treating acute otitis media. Aspirin is avoided in children because of the risk of Reye syndrome.
Category: Systemic and Decongestant Therapy
Question 7
A patient who feels dizzy after using otic drops should not drive until the dizziness resolves.
Correct Answer
True
True. Dizziness is a possible effect of otic anti-infectives and corticosteroids, so patients avoid driving or running machinery until it passes and report it if it continues.
Category: Ear Drop Technique
Question 8
In a patient with poorly controlled diabetes, untreated otitis externa can spread to the bone of the skull.
Correct Answer
True
True. Poorly controlled diabetes raises the risk of severe otitis externa, which can invade surrounding bone and become life-threatening, so ear pain in these patients is evaluated promptly.
Category: Ear Anatomy and Disorders
Question 9
In otitis externa, gently pulling the pinna or pressing on the tragus usually causes pain.
Correct Answer
True
True. Inflammation of the outer ear canal makes the canal skin tender, so moving the pinna or pressing the tragus hurts. This finding helps tell otitis externa from otitis media, in which moving the outer ear usually does not cause pain.
Category: Ear Anatomy and Disorders
Question 10
Frequent swimming increases the risk of otitis externa.
Correct Answer
True
True. Water left in the ear canal softens the skin and supports bacterial growth, which is why otitis externa is often called swimmer's ear. Drying the ears after swimming helps prevent it.
Category: Ear Anatomy and Disorders
Question 11
When giving ear drops to an infant or toddler, the nurse pulls the pinna up and back.
Correct Answer
False
False. In infants and toddlers the pinna is pulled down and back; up and back is the technique for adults and older children.
Category: Ear Drop Technique
Question 12
The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the inner ear.
Correct Answer
False
False. The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back of the nose (nasopharynx). It equalizes pressure and drains fluid from the middle ear.
Category: Ear Anatomy and Disorders
Question 13
Ciprofloxacin-hydrocortisone otic drops are an effective treatment for fungal infections of the ear canal.
Correct Answer
False
False. Ciprofloxacin acts on bacteria, not fungi, and corticosteroid drops are not used for fungal ear infections. Long use of antibiotic drops can actually lead to a fungal superinfection.
Category: Otic Anti-infectives
Question 14
Otic antibiotic and corticosteroid drops are meant to be used for many months to prevent infections from coming back.
Correct Answer
False
False. These drops are used only for the short course prescribed. Prolonged use raises the risk of fungal superinfection and other adverse effects, and an infection that is not improving needs to be reassessed.
Category: Otic Corticosteroids
Question 15
Meniere disease is caused by a bacterial infection of the middle ear.
Correct Answer
False
False. Meniere disease involves excess fluid in the inner ear, causing vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss and nausea. Its cause is largely unknown, and it is not a bacterial middle ear infection.
Category: Ear Anatomy and Disorders
Question 16
Packing cotton tightly into the ear canal after drops are instilled is recommended to keep the medication in place.
Correct Answer
False
False. A cotton ball may be placed loosely at the canal opening if ordered, but packing the canal tightly blocks drainage and can push material inward.
Category: Ear Drop Technique
Question 17
The semicircular canals are the inner ear structures responsible for hearing.
Correct Answer
False
False. The semicircular canals sense head rotation and support balance. Hearing depends on the cochlea.
Category: Ear Anatomy and Disorders
Question 18
Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine lower intraocular pressure, making them a good choice for patients with glaucoma.
Correct Answer
False
False. Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine stimulate alpha-adrenergic receptors, can dilate the pupil and raise intraocular pressure, and can trigger angle-closure glaucoma, so patients with glaucoma check with their eye provider before using them.
Category: Systemic and Decongestant Therapy
Question 19
Otitis externa is an infection of the middle ear behind the eardrum.
Correct Answer
False
False. Otitis externa is inflammation or infection of the outer ear canal. Infection of the middle ear behind the eardrum is otitis media.
Category: Ear Anatomy and Disorders
Question 20
Carbamide peroxide drops should be used every day as part of routine ear care.
Correct Answer
False
False. Carbamide peroxide is for short courses to soften impacted wax, used only as directed. Because the canal normally clears itself, routine daily use is not needed.
Category: Cerumenolytics