Otitis media; chronic

Alternative names:

chronic ear infection; chronic otitis media; ear infection, chronic; middle ear infection, chronic

Symptoms:

• ear pain or discomfort, earache
  • usually mild
  • may feel like pressure in the ear

• pus-like drainage from the ear
• hearing loss

Note: Symptoms may be continuous or intermittent, and may occur in one or both ears.

Signs and tests:

An inspection of the ear may show dullness, redness, air bubbles, or fluid behind the eardrum. The eardrum commonly shows drainage or perforation (a hole in the eardrum). The eardrum may bulge out or retract inward.

Cultures of drainage may show bacteria; these bacteria may be resistant or harder to treat than the bacteria commonly involved in acute ear infection.

Head X-rays or a CT scan of the head may show spread of the infection beyond the middle ear.