otitis media

otitis media
/mee"dee euh/, Pathol.
inflammation of the middle ear, characterized by pain, dizziness, and impaired hearing.
[1870-75; < NL: middle otitis]

* * *

      inflammation of the lining of the middle ear and one of the most common infections in childhood. In its acute form, it commonly develops in association with an infection of the upper respiratory tract that extends from the nasopharynx to the middle ear through the eustachian tube. The organisms that cause the disease in children under six years of age most commonly are the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and Haemophilus influenzae. The incidence of H. influenzae otitis has declined in response to a vaccine. Symptoms of otitis media include fever, earache, and sometimes suppuration (discharge of pus). Diagnosis is established by careful visual examination of the tympanic membrane (eardrum) and by techniques (tympanometry) that can provide evidence of fluid behind the eardrum. Antibiotics generally are given for acute otitis because the infection can spread to the nearby bones ( mastoiditis) and the central nervous system ( meningitis). The disease can be complicated by perforation of the eardrum and, in rare cases, by permanent hearing losses that lead to delay in the development of speech and language.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Otitis media — Classification and external resources A view of the tympanic membrane showing acute otitis media ICD 10 H …   Wikipedia

  • otitis media — Inflamación o infección del oído medio, afección común de los niños. La otitis media aguda a menudo está causada por Haemophilus influenzae o Streptococcus pneumoniae. La otitis media crónica habitualmente está causada por bacterias gramnegativas …   Diccionario médico

  • otitis media — otitis me·dia mēd ē ə n acute or chronic inflammation of the middle ear esp an acute inflammation esp. in infants or young children that is caused by a virus or bacterium, usu. occurs as a complication of an upper respiratory infection, and is… …   Medical dictionary

  • Otitis media — Para otros usos de este término, véase otitis. Otitis media Clasificación y recursos externos CIE 10 …   Wikipedia Español

  • otitis media — noun inflammation of the middle ear; common in children • Hypernyms: ↑otitis * * * ˈmēdēə noun Etymology: New Latin : inflammation of the middle ear marked by pain, fever, dizziness, and abnormalities of hearing see …   Useful english dictionary

  • Otitis media — Unter den Überbegriff Mittelohrentzündung werden unterschiedliche Krankheitsbilder eingereiht: Akute Mittelohrentzündung Chronische Mittelohrentzündung Chronische Schleimhauteiterung (Otitis media chronica mesotympanalis) Cholesteatom (Chronische …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • otitis media aguda — f. otorrin. Inflamación aguda del tejido de revestimiento del oído medio, causada por una infección de estafilococos, neumococos, estreptococos, Haemophilus influenzae y Pseudomonas. Es muy frecuente en los niños y suele cursar con fiebre, dolor… …   Diccionario médico

  • otitis media crónica superada simple — f. otorrin. Perforación central del tímpano con supuración mucopurulenta no fétida y eburnación de las mastoides. Produce sordera variable y en general no se presentan complicaciones endocraneanas. El tratamiento debe ser de tipo quirúrgico… …   Diccionario médico

  • otitis media secretoria — f. otorrin. Inflamación del oído que se caracteriza por un acúmulo de líquido seroso no purulento en el oído medio y sin afectación del tímpano. Parece estar relacionada con una falta de ventilación del oído medio a través de la trompa de… …   Diccionario médico

  • otitis media suppurative — otitis media with a discharge of pus (otorrhea); infecting bacteria are usually Streptococcus species, Haemophilus influenzae, or Staphylococcus aureus. It may be either acute or chronic. See also Gradenigo syndrome. Called also purulent o. media …   Medical dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”