Otitis - or more appropriately, otitis media - pertains to an infection or inflammation of the ear, which may affect either the inner or outer ear. Otitis is more common in young children.

Diagnosis for otitis largely depends on the patient’s medical history as well as a thorough physical exam. A lighted instrument called an otoscope is often used to look for inflammation inside the patient’s ear. If ear fluid persists, further testing may be done in the form of a tympanometry or an acoustic reflectometry.

There are several treatment options for otitis. Mild ear infections spontaneously clear within a few days. In such cases, no treatment is necessary, other than the occasional over-the-counter pain relievers to ease discomfort. In more persistent otitis cases, antibiotic therapy may be recommended. In really severe cases where the fluid in the patient’s ear is affecting hearing, surgical drainage of the ear fluid may be required.

Otitis may manifest with the following signs in children: frequent tugging or pulling of the ears; more frequent crying; sleep disturbances; failure to respond to sounds; irritability; fever; ear discharges; and headaches.

Otitis is typically caused by a viral infection, such as a cold, for instance. The infection inflames the middle ear, consequently building up fluid behind the eardrum. Other possible factors that can contribute to otitis are: dysfunction or swelling within the eustachian tubes; swelling of the adenoids; and immature immune systems in children that make them susceptible to ear infections.