True or false: Severe pain in acute otitis media indicates tympanic membrane perforation.

The statement that severe pain in acute otitis media indicates tympanic membrane perforation is false. While severe pain can indeed be a symptom of acute otitis media, it does not necessarily mean that a perforation has occurred. The pain associated with acute otitis media is often due to increased pressure in the middle ear caused by fluid accumulation and inflammation.

A tympanic membrane perforation may occur as a complication of untreated acute otitis media, but it is not a definitive indicator of the condition. Patients can experience significant pain without any perforation present. Therefore, understanding that pain intensity alone is not a reliable marker of tympanic membrane status is crucial in the clinical assessment of acute otitis media.