Introduction

Otitis Media (OM), inflammation of the middle ear. There are different types of ear infections:

• Middle ear infection (acute otitis media) is a bacterial or viral infection of middle ear. It is usually associated with an upper respiratory infection. Symptoms include otalgia, often with systemic symptoms (eg, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), especially in the very young (Merck, n.d.).
• Otitis media with effusion indicates inflammation with fluid build up in the middle ear
  • it can occur from incomplete resolution of acute otitis media or from the obstruction of the eustachian tube with or without signs of infection.
  • Does not cause fever, ear pain, or pus build-up in the middle ear (CDC 2024)

• The peak incidence of otitis media occurs between six and twelve months of life and declines after age five (Danishyar A. 2023).
  • Approximately 80% of all children will experience a case of otitis media during their lifetime.
  • Between 80%, and 90% of all children will have otitis media with an effusion before school age. 
• Almost half of infants experienced AOM by age 1 (Chonmaitree T. 2016).
  • Important AOM risk factors included frequent viral URI, pathogenic bacterial colonization, and lack of breastfeeding.
  • Bacterial-viral interactions may play a significant role in AOM.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About ear infections. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ear-infection/about/index.html

Danishyar A, Ashurst JV. Acute Otitis Media. [Updated 2023]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470332/

Chonmaitree T., Trujillo R., Jennings K.,  Alvarez-Fernandez P., Patel JA., Loeffelholz MJ., Nokso-Koivisto J., Matalon R., Pyles RB., Miller AL, and McCormick JP. (2016).

Merck Manuals Professional Version. (n.d.). Otitis media (acute). Retrieved from: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/ear-nose-and-throat-disorders/middle-ear-and-tympanic-membrane-disorders/otitis-media-acute?query=acute%20otitis%20media%20in%20children