aka glue ear, serous OM

• middle ear effusion without infection/other signs or symptoms of AOM
• OME can persist for several weeks after resolution of AOM. By 3 months, 90% of effusions will have resolved spontaneously. Persistent OME (glue ear) is the presence of a middle ear effusion for > 3 months.

Demographics: infants after AOM

Risk factors: Same as AOM

Aetiology

• Incompletely understood, thought to follow an episode of AOM in patients with

  ET dysfunction.

Pathophysiology

ET dysfunction → Negative middle ear pressure → Triggers formation of transudate →Dysfunctional ET prevents adequate drainage → Accumulation of fluid.

Clinical Features

• Painless sensation of pressure in the affected ear.
• Conductive hearing loss.

Investigations