Final answer:
A nurse should expect signs of acute otitis media in an infant who is crying nonstop, has a fever, and is pulling at their ear, which include ear pain, bulging tympanic membrane, and possibly swollen lymph nodes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse assessing an infant with symptoms of nonstop crying, fever, and pulling at the ear should expect typical manifestations of acute otitis media (AOM). These may include bulging of the tympanic membrane, ear pain (otalgia), and possibly swollen lymph nodes near the ear (such as postauricular lymph nodes) due to the infection and inflammation process. As the eustachian tubes swell, the infant might experience more discomfort, leading to the pulling at the ear and crying.
Additional symptoms of AOM can include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Especially in infants who cannot verbalize their discomfort, nonverbal cues such as tugging or rubbing the ear are key indicators for healthcare providers to suspect AOM.
Factors that facilitate AOM in young children include upper respiratory infections, the anatomical structure of their eustachian tubes, and behaviors such as bottle feeding while lying down, which can contribute to fluid accumulation in the middle ear and potentially to infection.