Humoral Immune Response in Acute Otitis Media

Abstract
A short summary of the middle ear mucosal defence system and the characteristics of the infecting bacteria associated with purulent acute otitis media (AOM) is given. Data on humoral immune factors in middle ear effusions and serum during AOM are presented and the possibility that children with frequent recurrences of AOM exhibit an impaired ability to produce antibodies against AOM-associated antigens is discussed.