Otitis Media

Otitis media is a pathology of the middle ear space characterized by inflammation and is the most common cause of conductive hearing impairment. [Page 1296]Its prevalence is impacted by the positioning (slope) and size (length) of the eustachian tube. Beginning at the birth up until the age of 7 years in children, the eustachian tube increases in length from approximately 13 to 35 mm, and the position alters from a 10° slope to approximately 45°. This accounts for the increased likelihood of dysfunction leading to otitis media for children 6 years of age and younger. The incidence of otitis media also decreases as an individual ages. The onset and duration of symptoms are used to categorize the disease as acute, recurrent, or chronic. These categories ...