Inflammation of the ear. Commonly the result of infection with one of a variety of organisms such as staphylococci, herpes viruses, and fungi of various kinds, including the thrush fungus Candida albicans. Symptoms include pain and a high fever.
Treatment is with antibiotics and sometimes also by surgical drainage.
Secretory otitis media is a chronic accumulation of fluid in the middle ear, causing hearing loss. Also known as 'glue ear'. Chronic suppurative otitis media is chronic inflammation of the middle ear associated with perforations of the eardrum and in some instances with cholesteatoma. All forms of otitis media respond well to expert treatment. Suppurative otitis, primary auricular granulomatosis inflammation, otorrhea, cholesteatoma, ear pain, auricular chondritis, and temporal bone granuloma are noted less frequently.