Learn About Otitis Media with Effusion

What is the definition of Otitis Media with Effusion?

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is thick or sticky fluid behind the eardrum in the middle ear. It occurs without an ear infection.

What are the alternative names for Otitis Media with Effusion?

OME; Secretory otitis media; Serous otitis media; Silent otitis media; Silent ear infection; Glue ear

What are the causes of Otitis Media with Effusion?

The Eustachian tube connects the inside of the ear to the back of the throat. This tube helps drain fluid to prevent it from building up in the ear. The fluid drains from the tube and is swallowed.

OME and ear infections are connected in two ways:

  • After most ear infections have been treated, fluid (an effusion) remains in the middle ear for a few days or weeks.
  • When the Eustachian tube is partially blocked, fluid builds up in the middle ear. Bacteria inside the ear become trapped and begin to grow. This may lead to an ear infection.

The following can cause swelling of the Eustachian tube lining that leads to increased fluid in the middle ear:

  • Allergies
  • Irritants (particularly cigarette smoke)
  • Respiratory infections

The following can cause the Eustachian tube to close or become blocked:

  • Drinking while lying on your back
  • Sudden increases in air pressure (such as descending in an airplane or on a mountain road)

Getting water in a baby's ears will not lead to a blocked Eustachian tube.

OME is most common in winter or early spring, but it can occur at any time of year. It can affect people of any age. It occurs most often in children under age 2, but is rare in newborns.

Younger children get OME more often than older children or adults for several reasons:

  • The tube is shorter, more horizontal, and straighter, making it easier for bacteria to enter.
  • The tube is floppier, with a tinier opening that's easy to block.
  • Young children get more colds because it takes time for the immune system to be able to recognize and ward off cold viruses.

The fluid in OME is often thin and watery. In the past, it was thought that the fluid got thicker the longer it was present in the ear. ("Glue ear" is a common name given to OME with thick fluid.) However, fluid thickness is now thought to be related to the ear itself, rather than to how long the fluid is present.

What are the symptoms of Otitis Media with Effusion?

Unlike children with an ear infection, children with OME do not act sick.

OME often does not have obvious symptoms.

Older children and adults often complain of muffled hearing or a sense of fullness in the ear. Younger children may turn up the television volume because of hearing loss.

Not sure about your diagnosis?
Check Your Symptoms
What are the current treatments for Otitis Media with Effusion?

Most providers will not treat OME at first, unless there are also signs of an infection. Instead, they will recheck the problem in 2 to 3 months.

You can make the following changes to help clear up the fluid behind the eardrum:

  • Avoid cigarette smoke
  • Encourage infants to breastfeed
  • Treat allergies by staying away from triggers (such as dust). Adults and older children may be given allergy medicines.

Most often the fluid will clear on its own. Your provider may suggest watching the condition for a while to see if it is getting worse before recommending treatment.

If the fluid is still present after 6 weeks, the provider may recommend:

  • Continuing to watch the problem
  • A hearing test
  • A single trial of antibiotics (if they were not given earlier)

If the fluid is still present at 8 to 12 weeks, antibiotics may be tried. These medicines are not always helpful.

At some point, the child's hearing should be tested.

If there is significant hearing loss (more than 20 decibels), antibiotics or ear tubes might be needed.

If the fluid is still present after 4 to 6 months, tubes are probably needed, even if there is no major hearing loss.

Sometimes the adenoids must be taken out for the Eustachian tube to work properly.

Who are the top Otitis Media with Effusion Local Doctors?
Family Medicine
Family Medicine

Montgomery Medical Associates LLC

542 N 3rd St, 
Montgomery, IN 
 40.8 mi

Merle Holsopple is a Family Medicine provider in Montgomery, Indiana. Dr. Holsopple and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Otitis Media with Effusion. His top areas of expertise are Peripheral Neuropathy, Coronary Heart Disease, Atherosclerosis, and Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young.

Family Medicine
Family Medicine

St Vincent Medical Group Inc

8433 Harcourt Rd, Suite 100, 
Indianapolis, IN 
 136.7 mi
Accepting New Patients

Jennifer Stanley is a Family Medicine provider in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Stanley and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Otitis Media with Effusion. Her top areas of expertise are Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Idiopathic Edema, and Otitis Media with Effusion. Dr. Stanley is currently accepting new patients.

 
 
 
 
Learn about our expert tiers
Learn More

Iu Health Medical Group, LLC

1701 N Senate Blvd, 
Indianapolis, IN 
 130.7 mi

Christine Barron is an Otolaryngologist in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Barron and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Otitis Media with Effusion. Her top areas of expertise are Otitis Media with Effusion, Otitis, and Laryngectomy.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Otitis Media with Effusion?

OME most often goes away on its own over a few weeks or months. Treatment may speed up this process. Glue ear may not clear up as quickly as OME with a thinner fluid.

OME is most often not life threatening. Most children do not have long-term damage to their hearing or speaking ability, even when the fluid remains for many months.

When should I contact a medical professional for Otitis Media with Effusion?

Contact your provider if:

  • You think you or your child might have OME. (You should continue to watch the condition until the fluid has disappeared.)
  • New symptoms develop during or after treatment for this disorder.
How do I prevent Otitis Media with Effusion?

Helping your child reduce the risk of ear infections can help prevent OME.

What are the latest Otitis Media with Effusion Clinical Trials?
Otitis Media Diagnosis and Treatment: Coherent Optical Detection of Middle Ear Disease

Summary: The purpose of this project is to see if optical coherence tomography (OCT), a new technology acting as an ultrasound for the ear, facilitates accurately diagnosing acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. Clinical diagnoses made using solely otoscopy will be compared to those made with the addition of OCT.

Match to trials
Find the right clinical trials for you in under a minute
Get started
Evaluation of Clinical and Health Economic Outcomes Following In-office Tympanostomy Using the Tula® System: a Prospective, Multi-center Registry

Summary: This prospective, single-arm, multicenter registry is being conducted to collect real world post-market data from patients aged from 6 months to 17 years of age who are undergoing an in-office ear tube placement procedure (tympanostomy) using the Tula® System. The Registry will include up to 20 centers in the US and up to 200 patients for the initial evaluation. The FDA-approved Tula System includ...

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: July 03, 2022
Published By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

Kerschner JE, Preciado D. Otitis media. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 658.

Pelton SI. Otitis externa, otitis media, and mastoiditis. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 61.

Rosenfeld RM, Shin JJ, Schwartz SR, et al. Clinical practice guideline: Otitis media with effusion executive summary (update). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;154(2):201-214. PMID: 26833645 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26833645/.

Schilder AGM, Rosenfeld RM, Venekamp RP. Acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 199.