Inflammation or infection of the middle ear occurs when the eustachian tube to that ear is blocked. The eustachian tube is the passage from the back of the nose to the middle ear. Chronic otitis media occurs when the eustachian tube becomes blocked repeatedly (or remains blocked for long periods) due to allergies, multiple infections, ear trauma, or swelling of the adenoids.
When the middle ear is actually infected with bacteria (or occasionally, viruses) rather than just inflamed, it is more serious. A chronic ear infection may be the result of an acute ear infection that does not clear completely, or the result of recurrent ear infections. The infection may spread into the mastoid bone behind the ear (mastoiditis), or pressure from fluid build-up may rupture the eardrum or damage the bones of the middle ear.
A chronic ear infection may be more destructive than an acute ear infection because its effects are prolonged or repeated, and it may cause permanent damage to the ear. However, a chronic, long-term infection may show less severe symptoms -- so the infection may remain unnoticed and untreated for a long time.
Ear infections are more common in children because their eustachian tubes are shorter, narrower, and more horizontal than in adults. Chronic ear infections are much less common than acute ear infections.
Ear infection - acute (5 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Ear infections are one of the most common reasons parents take their children to the doctor. While there are different types of ear infections, the most common is called otitis media, which means an inflammation and infection of the middle ear. The middle ear is located just behind the eardrum. The term "acute" refers to a short and painful episode. An ear infection that lasts a long time or comes and goes is called chronic otitis media. For links to other types of ear infections, see otitis. Reviewer: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/09/2006
Otitis media with effusion (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear. Otitis media with effusion (OME) refers to fluid in the middle ear space, but without the symptoms of an acute infection. Children with acute otitis media (acute ear infection) have fluid in the middle ear accompanied by signs or symptoms such as ear pain, redness of the eardrum, or fever. Children with an acute ear infection act sick, especially at night. Children with OME do not.
The fluid in OME is often thin and watery. "Glue ear" is a common name given to OME with thick, viscous effusion (fluid. Reviewer: Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/10/2006
Otitis (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Otitis is a general term for infection or inflammation of the ear. Reviewer: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/17/2006
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