Otitis media (also known as glue ear) is an inflammation of the middle ear, usually associated with a buildup of fluid. The fluid may or may not be infected.
There are several kinds of otitis media:
Acute otitis media is an infection that produces pus, fluid, and inflammation within the middle ear. It is frequently associated with signs of upper respiratory infection, such as a runny or stuffy nose.
Otitis media with effusion is the presence of middle ear fluid for 6 weeks or more from the initial acute otitis media.
Chronic otitis media may develop when the infection persists for more than 2 weeks.
Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are the most common bacterial causes of otitis media. Still, antibiotics are rarely effective in shortening disease duration. Tubal dysfunction leads to the ineffective clearing of bacteria from the middle ear.
Surgery is sometimes performed to insert a grommet into the eardrum to allow air to pass through into the middle ear, and thus help clearing excess fluid within.
The infections are most common in kids between the ages of 6 months and 2 years, although children of all ages may occasionally suffer from OM.
Although the infections are relatively easy to treat, if a child has had multiple earinfections that do not get better easily or has evidence of hearing loss or speech delay, a doctor may suggest ear tube surgery (also called bilateral myringotomy and tubes, or BMT).
Although ear tube surgery is a relatively common procedure, surgery is not the first choice of treatment for otitis media.
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