Contents

Search

middle ear effusion (otitis media with effusion)

Fluid in the middle ear. Etiology: 1) acute otitis media with effusion* 2) chronic serous otitis media* * see eustachian tube dysfunction Pathology: - eustachian tube dysfunction Clinical manifestations: - aural fullness - conductive hearing loss Special laboratory: - otoscopy - clear or yellowish fluid present behind an intact tympanic membrane Management: - observation - nasal balloon autoinflation (Otovent) - NNT = 9 [3] - effectiveness of decongestants, antihistamines, &/or nasal glucocorticoids is very limited [4] - prognosis: - most cases resolve without treatment within 12 weeks [4] See references.

Related

acute otitis media (AOM) chronic serous otitis media (glue ear, otitis media with effusion)

General

sign/symptom

References

  1. Rosenfeld RM, Culpepper L, Doyle KJ, Grundfast KM, Hoberman A, Kenna MA, Lieberthal AS, Mahoney M, Wahl RA, Woods CR Jr, Yawn B; American Academy of Pediatrics Subcommittee on Otitis Media with Effusion; American Academy of Family Physicians; American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery. Clinical practice guideline: Otitis media with effusion. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 May;130(5 Suppl):S95-118. PMID: 15138413 (Guideline withdrawn 02/2009)
  2. American Academy of Family Physicians; American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; American Academy of Pediatrics Subcommittee on Otitis Media With Effusion. Otitis media with effusion. Pediatrics. 2004 May;113(5):1412-29. PMID: 15121966 (Guideline withdrawn 02/2009)
  3. Williamson I, Vennik J, Harnden A et al Effect of nasal balloon autoinflation in children with otitis media with effusion in primary care: an open randomized controlled trial. CMAJ. Published Online July 27, 2015 PMID: 26216608 http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2015/07/27/cmaj.141608.full.pdf+html - Del Mar C, Hoffmann T Autoinflation: an effective nondrug intervention for glue ear. CMAJ. Published Online July 27, 2015 PMID: 26216610 http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2015/07/27/cmaj.150527 - Video of procedure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwh5IyN26Fk&feature=youtu.be
  4. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 19 Board Basics. An Enhancement to MKSAP19. American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2022
  5. Vanneste P, Page C. Otitis media with effusion in children: Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. A review. J Otol. 2019;14:33-39. PMID: 31223299