Otitis Media in Children: To Treat or Not to Treat?

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Abstract
OTITIS media is the most frequent diagnosis made by physicians who care for children.1 , 2 Acute otitis media is usually suppurative or purulent, but serous middle-ear effusions may also have an acute onset. Chronic otitis media with effusion has many synonyms, including such terms as "secretory," "serous," and "nonsuppurative" otitis media and "glue ear." 3 A chronic effusion may be serous, mucoid, or even purulent. In some instances, the eardrum may be retracted or collapsed without a middle-ear effusion; this condition is termed atelectasis of the tympanic membrane and is the result of persistent or intermittent negative middle-ear pressure. Chronic suppurative otitis . . .