subject: Defining Otitis Media [print this page] Otitis media: The medical terminology used to refer to a middle ear infection is otitis media. An ear infection is defined by an inflammation so a middle ear infection refers to an inflammation in the area of the middle ear. The middle ear is located between the tympanic membrane (outer ear) and the inner ear. The inner ear includes the eustachian tube which is often involved in inflammation of the ear. Two types of ear inflammation can result in pain that causes patients to refer to the condition as an earache. One is otitis media.
There are several types of medical conditions/issues that can cause patients to refer to it as an "earache" (shingles, cancers in areas that share common nerve supply to the ear). But the only other ear infection that will result in the painful sensation most will identify as an earache is otitis externa.
Types of Otitis Media:
1. Acute: acute otitis media is most often purely viral. It often presents as a result of an underlying upper respiratory infection. Several weeks can be required for full recovery. During the process of infection to recovery topical medications can be helpful.
2. Otitis media with effusion: this type is caused by unhealthy function of the eustachian tubes that result in a collection of fluid in the middle ear.
3. Chronic suppurative: chronic suppurative otitis media has a perforation in the tympanic membrane. The bacterial infection is typically active in the middle ear for up to several weeks. Poor eustachian tube function increases the risks.
Treatment: When a patient is diagnosed with otitis media oral and/or topical analgesics are often diagnosed to handle the pain. Cases of otitis media that are not resolved naturally with the aid of pain management within a few days of onset are most often treated with antibiotics. The first line of antibiotic treatment is amoxicillin. If the bacteria is resistant another penicillin derivative plus beta lactamase inhibitor is second in line. Five days of treatment is optimal.
Summary: Otitis media can be painful. It often leads to sleepless nights for individuals suffering from the infection as well as the parents of children suffering from the infection. It can result in eardrum perforations (and not all instances result in healed perforations). These perforations can spread to cause mastoiditis or meningitis, brain abscess or death if an instance of acute otitis media is left untreated for a long period of time.
The high fever that often accompanies cases of otitis media can sometimes cause febrile seizures. Appropriate antibiotic treatment prevents these complications in most cases.
