An ear infection is an inflammatory condition of the ear caused by bacterial, viral, or occasionally fungal organisms, classified by the region affected. Otitis externa involves the outer ear canal, while otitis media affects the air-filled middle ear and is especially common in young children, in whom a short, hori…
An ear infection is an inflammatory condition of the ear caused by bacterial, viral, or occasionally fungal organisms, classified by the region affected. Otitis externa involves the outer ear canal, while otitis media affects the air-filled middle ear and is especially common in young children, in whom a short, horizontally oriented Eustachian tube predisposes to fluid accumulation and infection following upper respiratory illness. Acute otitis media typically produces ear pain, fever, and a sense of fullness, with bulging or inflammation of the tympanic membrane; when fluid persists without acute infection the condition is termed otitis media with effusion, which can impair hearing during a critical period for language development. Recurrent or chronic middle-ear disease may lead to persistent perforation of the eardrum, ossicular damage, and conductive hearing loss, and in some cases to cholesteatoma, an abnormal accumulation of keratinising epithelium that can erode surrounding structures. Diagnosis relies on otoscopic examination and assessment of hearing, and treatment ranges from observation and analgesia to topical or systemic antibiotics depending on site and severity. When disease becomes chronic or the tympanic membrane is damaged, surgical repair such as tympanoplasty, using fascia, cartilage, or perichondrium grafts, may be undertaken to close perforations and restore hearing, underscoring the link between infection, structural injury, and auditory outcome.
6 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 6 articles above have been cited 12 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Ear Infection, linking to each citing work.