Otitis media with effusion (glue ear)

Extract

• After acute otitis media, it may be normal to have effusion in the middle ear for several weeks.
• In chronic otitis media with effusion (OME; or secretory or serous otitis media, "glue ear"), effusion in the middle ear persists for more than 3 months continuously.
• The effusion causes reduced mobility of the tympanic membrane. Pneumatic otoscopy and/or tympanometry are necessary for diagnosis. The tympanic membrane is either in the normal, neutral position or retracted.
• The primary indication for treatment is impaired hearing. OME will not lead to permanent damage to the development of speech in a basically healthy child.
• If effusion in the middle ear persists for more than 3 months continuously, the child should be referred to an ENT specialist for assessment. The treatment decision is always individual.

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Child, Children, Ear, Effusion, Eustachian tube, Glue ear, H65.3, Middle ear, Middle ear effusion, OME, Otitis, Otitis media, Otitis media with effusion, Otorhinolaryngology, Otoscopy, Paediatrics, SOM, Secretory otitis media, Serous otitis media, Tympanic membrane, Tympanogram, Tympanometry