Otitis media

Otitis media includes Acute otitis media: ear pain, decreased hearing, and fever following a URI; Serous otitis media: decreased hearing; and Chronic otitis media: perforation of eardrum with drainage. Erythema of tympanic membranes (without immobility) occurs during viral URIs in children.

CASES/YEAR
5,000,000 (US); 100,000,000 (Global)
AGENT TYPE
Bacteria
OTHER NAMES
Acute, serous, or chronic otitis media;
ACUITY
Acute-Moderate
INCUBATION
Estimated: 1-10 days;
INITIAL SYMPTOMS
Acute otitis media: ear pain, decreased hearing, and fever following a URI; Serous otitis media: decreased hearing; Chronic otitis media: perforation of eardrum with drainage; [Harrisons, p. 251]
PRECAUTIONS
COMMENTS
Erythema of tympanic membranes occurs with inflammation of upper respiratory mucosa during viral URIs in children. The clinical diagnosis of acute otitis media is made when the tympanic membrane is immobile, red, and bulging or retracted. "Antibiotic prophylaxis and surgical interventions offer little benefit in recurrent acute otitis media." Serous otitis media usually resolves within 3 months without antibiotic treatment. Chronic otitis media may require repeated courses of topical antibiotics (inactive) or surgery (active). In active disease, a cholesteatoma may invade bone. Complications include meningitis and brain abscesses. [Harrisons, p. 251] Complications are conductive hearing loss, mastoiditis, and eardrum perforation. Rare complications are cranial nerve palsies, meningitis, and brain abscesses. [ABX Guide] See "Mastoiditis."
DIAGNOSTIC
Clinical
SCOPE
Global
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
  • >fever
  • E pharyngitis
  • E rhinitis
  • G diarrhea
  • G nausea, vomiting
  • H leukocytosis
  • N headache
  • *brain abscess or lesion
  • *cranial neuropathy
  • *meningitis
ANTIMICROBIC

Yes

VACCINE

No

ENTRY
Inhalation
RESERVOIR
Human
RISK FACTORS
REFERENCES FOR CASES/YEAR
1. (US) Diagnosed 5 million times/year in the US; [5MCC-2020]
2. (Global) 20 X US cases/yr;