Otitis is a general term for
inflammation
Inflammation (from la, wikt:en:inflammatio#Latin, inflammatio) is part of the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or Irritation, irritants, and is a protective response involving im ...
or
infection
An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable d ...
, inner ear infection, middle ear infection of the
ear, in both humans and other animals. When infection is present, it may be viral or bacterial.
When inflammation is present due to fluid build up in the middle ear and infection is not present it is considere
Otitis media with effusion It is subdivided into the following:
* ''
Otitis externa'', external otitis, or "swimmer's ear", involves the
outer ear
The outer ear, external ear, or auris externa is the external part of the ear, which consists of the auricle (also pinna) and the ear canal. It gathers sound energy and focuses it on the eardrum ( tympanic membrane).
Structure
Auricle
T ...
and
ear canal
The ear canal (external acoustic meatus, external auditory meatus, EAM) is a pathway running from the outer ear to the middle ear. The adult human ear canal extends from the pinna to the eardrum and is about in length and in diameter.
Stru ...
. In external otitis, we see tenderness in the
pinna—i.e., the outer ear hurts when touched or pulled.
* ''
Otitis media
Otitis media is a group of inflammatory diseases of the middle ear. One of the two main types is acute otitis media (AOM), an infection of rapid onset that usually presents with ear pain. In young children this may result in pulling at the ear, ...
'', or middle ear infection, involves the
middle ear
The middle ear is the portion of the ear medial to the eardrum, and distal to the oval window of the cochlea (of the inner ear).
The mammalian middle ear contains three ossicles, which transfer the vibrations of the eardrum into waves in ...
. In otitis media, the ear is infected or clogged with fluid behind the ear drum, in the normally air-filled middle-ear space. This is the most common infection
and very common in babies below 6 months. This condition sometimes requires a surgical procedure called ''
myringotomy'' and
tube insertion.
* ''
Otitis interna'', or
labyrinthitis, involves the
inner ear
The inner ear (internal ear, auris interna) is the innermost part of the vertebrate ear. In vertebrates, the inner ear is mainly responsible for sound detection and balance. In mammals, it consists of the bony labyrinth, a hollow cavity in t ...
. The inner ear includes sensory organs for balance and hearing. When the inner ear is inflamed,
''vertigo'' is a common symptom. Other symptoms in adults include pain and drainage from ear or problems with hearing.
Symptoms in children can include excessive crying, touching at ears, drainage, and fever.
Treatment can range from increasing fluids and
over-the-counter medicine to manage symptoms to antibiotics prescribed by medical providers.
References
External links
{{ear-disease-stub