Otitis Media

The Otitis Media topic includes research on the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of middle ear infection (otitis media) and its complications, including cholesteatoma, and mastoiditis.

Otitis media is a common pediatric diagnosis in emergency departments, most commonly observed in children aged 6 to 24 months. Left untreated, otitis media can cause hearing loss, speech delays, balance issues, tympanic membrane perforation, cholesteatoma accumulation of dead cells in the middle ear, caused by repeated middle ear infections), mastoiditis (infection of the mastoid bone), labyrinthitis (viral or bacterial infection or inflammation of the inner ear that can cause dizziness, loss of balance, and temporary hearing loss), petrositis (an infection or inflammation of the petrous portion of the temporal bone), meningitis, and brain abscess.