Otitis media

Otitis media 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:

1. 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.
2. Otitis media with effusion is the presence of middle ear fluid for 6 weeks or more from the initial acute otitis media.
3. Chronic otitis media may develop when the infection persists for more than 2 weeks.

External Links

• What is otitis media? (http://www.kidsource.com/ASHA/otitis.html)
• Acute otitis media in children (http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/ear/otitis_media.html)