Otitis media - chronic

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Ear anatomy

Ear tube insertion - series

Middle ear infection

Middle ear infection (otitis media)

Middle ear infection - chronic; Ear infection - chronic; Chronic otitis media; Chronic ear infection

• Ear pain or discomfort, earache
  • Usually mild
  • May feel like pressure in the ear
• Pus-like drainage from the ear
• Hearing loss

An examination of the ear may show dullness, redness, air bubbles, or fluid behind the eardrum. The eardrum may show drainage or perforation (a hole in the eardrum). The eardrum may bulge out or retract inward.

Cultures of drainage may show bacteria. These bacteria may be resistant or harder to treat than the bacteria commonly involved in acute ear infection.

Mastoid x-rays or a CT scan of the head or mastoids may show spreading of the infection beyond the middle ear.

Review Date: 04/28/2006
Reviewed By: Alden J. Pearl M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.