A Parent Tells You That a 4-Year-Old Child Has Some

A parent tells you that a 4-year-old child has some clear drainage coming from the right ear. This drainage is sometimes tinged with blood. The parent asks if the ear canal should be irrigated. What is your best response?

A) "Use a small amount of sterile saline instilled into the ear to flush out the fluid and blood."
B) "You may use over-the-counter ear drops in this ear to clear up this new infection."
C) "The ear will need to be irrigated, and then an antibiotic for the ear instilled."
D) "The ear should not be irrigated when there is drainage present."