Otitis Media With Effusion

Otitis Media with Effusion (OME), also known as Serous Otitis Media (SOM), is the accumulation of sticky fluid in the

middle ear

 that may result in difficulty hearing, ear pain or discomfort, dizziness, infection and

inflammation

.
OME is more common in children between 6 months and 3 years of age and affects more boys than girls. The condition occurs more often in the fall and winter months and is commonly underdiagnosed because of its lack of acute or obvious symptoms (compared to acute otitis media).
Symptoms

Difficulty hearing

  • In one ear, Both ears

common

Spinning dizziness

or Dizziness

common

Ear pain

common

Fever

  • Greater than or equal to 38°C (100.4°F), Less than 38°C (100.4°F)

common

Feeling agitated

or Child is constantly crying

common

Risk factors

Recent history of Otitis Media

Inflammation of the nose caused by allergy

or Recent upper respiratory tract infection

Swimming

Cleft lip and/or cleft palate

Family history of recurrent Otitis Media

Treatment
OME is typically treated by draining the accumulated fluid and preventing future accumulation.
Recommended specialist

If you have Otitis Media With Effusion, then a visit to an ENT specialist is highly recommended.

Contact an

ENT specialist

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