All About Otitis Media (middle ear infection) - Fact Sheet
What is otitis media?
Otitis media is the general term for a range of related middle ear diseases1.
Otitis media is the medical name for the condition. Many parents whose children have otitis media may just call it "glue ear" or an "ear infection".
Acute otitis media is commonly associated with the rapid onset of symptoms, such as fever and ear pain1.
How common is otitis media?
Otitis media is one of the most common childhood diseases.
It is estimated that by the age of three, over three quarters of all children will have at least one episode of acute otitis media, and almost half of all children will have at least three episodes2
Acute otitis media is common in children, causing suffering and also causing potential concern for their families2;3.
What causes otitis media?
Otitis media can be caused by bacteria or viruses. Bacterial otitis media can be more clinically severe4.
The main microorganisms causing bacterial otitis media are Streptococcus pneumoniae, non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and also Moraxella catarrhalis5.
What is the impact of acute otitis media?
Acute otitis media (AOM) is often painful for children and a cause of concern for parents 3;6. A child with AOM can have normal hearing, or their hearing can be affected. The child's hearing will typically return to normal as the AOM resolves, or it will resolve with appropriate treatment6.
Acute otitis media can evolve into more complicated forms of otitis media that can in some cases result in prolonged periods where the child's hearing is affected at stages that are important for speech and language development6. In rare cases there can be serious consequences for the child's hearing6.
How is otitis media currently treated?
Otitis media is one of the most frequent reasons for the prescription of antibiotics in children1.
The treatment of otitis media varies widely across the world as internationally recognised treatment guidelines have not been agreed6.
Cripps AW, Otczyk DC, Kyd JM. Bacterial otitis media: a vaccine preventable disease? Vaccine 2005 Mar 18;23(17-18):2304-10.
Teele DW, Klein JO, Rosner B. Epidemiology of otitis media during the first seven years of life in children in greater Boston: a prospective, cohort study. J Infect Dis 1989 Jul;160(1):83-94.
Brouwer CN, Rovers MM, Maille AR, Veenhoven RH, Grobbee DE, Sanders EA, et al. The impact of recurrent acute otitis media on the quality of life of children and their caregivers. Clin Otolaryngol 2005 Jun;30(3):258-65.
Leibovitz E, Satran R, Piglansky L, Raiz S, Press J, Leiberman A, et al. Can acute otitis media caused by Haemophilus influenzae be distinguished from that caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae? Pediatr Infect Dis J 2003 Jun;22(6):509-15.
Kilpi T, Herva E, Kaijalainen T, Syrjanen R, Takala AK. Bacteriology of acute otitis media in a cohort of Finnish children followed for the first two years of life. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2001 Jul;20(7):654-62.
Alper C, Bluestone C, Casselbrant M, Dohar J, Mandell E. Advanced Therapy of Otitis Media. BC Decker; 2004.
